Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced his upcoming visit to China for the Victory Day Parade during a powerful speech in Bratislava commemorating the Slovak National Uprising.
Fico condemned what he called a resurgence of fascism and nazism in Europe, warned against escalating East-West tensions, and defended the Soviet Union’s role in Slovakia’s WWII liberation. He stressed the importance of remembering historical truth, stating:
"We know very well where freedom came from in Slovakia... and we know what the peoples of the former Soviet Union paid as a huge price for this liberation struggle."
Fico will be one of only two European leaders attending China’s September 3 Victory Parade, alongside Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić. The event will also be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.