“He Realized Things Were Getting Serious”: Expert Explains Why Fico Will Fly to Moscow but Skip the May 9 Parade

Political strategist Mykhailo Sheitelman stated that after the ceasefire planned for May 6 collapsed, many realized that the parade in Moscow was under threat, since Ukraine would act symmetrically, Politeka reports.

He spoke about this in his blog.

As the expert notes, the Kremlin said that if their ceasefire was disrupted, a retaliatory strike would be carried out on central Kyiv during the May 9 celebrations. However, he emphasizes, Russian forces have been shelling central Kyiv every day for over four years now, which effectively means that Ukraine has always “interfered” with their parade simply by existing. Nevertheless, the expert states, the Ukrainian leadership responded to these threats in a very inventive way.

“Russians try to present themselves as strong and frightening. But by the fifth year, there is no fear left. They can no longer intimidate us. They pretend to be strong — well, we can see the results. And they have no other cards. Apart from this trump six, they have nothing else in reserve. Trump needs to be told that this is their only card. I’m talking about Putin. He is still a ‘trump,’ but just a six. And they have nothing else. Meanwhile, Zelensky offered an alternative response, which, I think, surprised even Europeans,” Sheitelman comments.

In response, he explains, Zelensky announced a ceasefire on the night of May 6, stating that from that moment Ukraine would act symmetrically — meaning the fate of the May 9 parade would depend on this. And the most interesting part, the expert adds, is that Russian pro-war (“Z”) channels understood this, even writing that they should stop firing so the parade could take place peacefully.

“The first to realize things were getting serious was Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia. While in Armenia, he suddenly understood that this was all rather improper. In other words, decent people are around — Macron is playing the piano, everyone is having a good time, everything is fine — and Fico is spoiling the party by going to Russia. People are like: ‘You’re really heading into that swamp? Are you out of your mind?’ But he said he would meet with Putin, lay flowers for Russians, but would not attend the parade because it is a military event,” Sheitelman concludes.