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British PM has no plans of going to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations

Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said refusal of some Western leaders to attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9 won’t affect the celebrations

British Prime Minister David Cameron EPA/TAL COHEN

British Prime Minister David Cameron

© EPA/TAL COHEN

LONDON, March 12. /TASS/. British Prime Minister David Cameron has no plans of going to Moscow for participation in celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, his speaker said Thursday.

Traditionally, many world leaders are invited to attend celebrations in Russia on May 9. Moscow has invited many global politicians - including the leaders of North Korea and China - to the celebrations featuring a traditional Red Square military parade. Chinese President Xi Jinping and around 20 foreign leaders have already confirmed their decision to attend World War Two Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also given a positive response to Moscow’s invitation. Kim’s trip to Moscow will be his first foreign visit since taking power from his late father, Kim Jong Il, as the country's leader in 2011.

Read also

Angela Merkel not to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend May 9 celebrations in Moscow, a German government spokesperson told TASS on Wednesday.

"She will arrive in Moscow on May 10 and they will together lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall," she said.

Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said refusal of some Western leaders to attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9 won’t affect the celebrations.

"This will not affect the spirit of the celebrations, their emotional component or the scope of the holiday," Peskov told RSN radio, commenting on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s refusal to attend the parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during the Great Patriotic War.

"All who had relation to this event" were invited, and it is up to them whether to accept the invitation or not, he said.

Read also

Victory Day Parade in Moscow

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David Cameron Victory Day World War II

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