A group of European Union parliamentarians, including two Germans, plans to travel to Moscow this week to participate in the Victory Day celebrations and send a message of peace.
The delegation, which also includes MEPs from the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Slovakia, intends to engage in talks with Russian lawmakers, politicians, and cultural figures, according to German MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich.
Representing the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), the two MEPs emphasized their goal of supporting a unilateral ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping to contribute to a lasting peace in Ukraine. The delegation’s message aims to show commitment to halting the violence and ensuring long-term silence of the guns in the conflict.
Putin’s announced ceasefire, set to begin at midnight on May 7-8 and last until May 10-11, has been met with skepticism from Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who dismissed the truce as “manipulation.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces ramped up their drone attacks on Russian cities, including Moscow.
In addition to the trip to Moscow, former German MPs Klaus Ernst and Sevim Dagdelen, also from BSW, announced plans to attend a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. They expressed opposition to what they described as the “falsification of history” and the demonization of Russia. Dagdelen stated, “Russia is not my enemy, and I don’t feel threatened by or at war with Russia,” calling the event an opportunity for dialogue and a fresh start in German-Russian relations.
This position sharply contrasts with the stance of the German government and the European Union. The German Foreign Ministry had previously advised against inviting Russian and Belarusian officials to any World War II commemorations, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned against any attendance of officials from EU member or candidate states at Moscow’s Victory Day events. Additionally, Berlin authorities have imposed a ban on the display of Russian and Soviet flags and symbols during May 8 and 9 commemorations.
