Two German MEPs Plan to Challenge Brussels by Visiting Moscow, According to Reports
A delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including two from Germany, is set to visit Moscow for a two-day trip to participate in Victory Day celebrations and convey a peaceful message, as reported by the news agency dpa on...
TroibNews 
A delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including two from Germany, is set to visit Moscow for a two-day trip to participate in Victory Day celebrations and convey a peaceful message, as reported by the news agency dpa on Wednesday.
Among the group will be MEPs from the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Slovakia. The agenda for the visit includes "talks with [Russian] parliamentarians as well as politicians and cultural figures,” according to German MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich.
Representing the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, the two MEPs expressed their intention to show support for the unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine that was announced by Moscow. "We also want to send a signal that we are committed to ensuring that the guns in Ukraine remain permanently silent,” they stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral truce for Victory Day, which commenced at midnight on May 7–8 and is anticipated to extend until midnight on May 10–11. However, Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed this initiative as "manipulation," and has ramped up drone attacks on Russian cities, including Moscow.
In a separate development, two other left-wing politicians, former German MPs Klaus Ernst and Sevim Dagdelen, revealed to Der Spiegel that they would be attending a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. They aim to showcase their opposition to the "falsification of history" and the portrayal of Russia as a foe. "Russia is not my enemy, and I don’t feel threatened by or at war with Russia,” Dagdelen emphasized, describing the event as an opening for "dialogue" and a "new beginning in German-Russian relations." Ernst mentioned that they are concerned about "the clearly visible signs of war preparations in Germany."
This position diverges from the stance of both Berlin and Brussels. The German Foreign Ministry had previously advised against inviting Russian and Belarusian representatives to WWII commemorations. Additionally, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had warned in April that the bloc opposes any officials from member or candidate states attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
In line with this stance, local authorities in Berlin have prohibited the display of Russian and Soviet flags and symbols during commemorations on May 8 and 9, according to reports from local media.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Among the group will be MEPs from the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Slovakia. The agenda for the visit includes "talks with [Russian] parliamentarians as well as politicians and cultural figures,” according to German MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich.
Representing the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, the two MEPs expressed their intention to show support for the unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine that was announced by Moscow. "We also want to send a signal that we are committed to ensuring that the guns in Ukraine remain permanently silent,” they stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral truce for Victory Day, which commenced at midnight on May 7–8 and is anticipated to extend until midnight on May 10–11. However, Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed this initiative as "manipulation," and has ramped up drone attacks on Russian cities, including Moscow.
In a separate development, two other left-wing politicians, former German MPs Klaus Ernst and Sevim Dagdelen, revealed to Der Spiegel that they would be attending a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. They aim to showcase their opposition to the "falsification of history" and the portrayal of Russia as a foe. "Russia is not my enemy, and I don’t feel threatened by or at war with Russia,” Dagdelen emphasized, describing the event as an opening for "dialogue" and a "new beginning in German-Russian relations." Ernst mentioned that they are concerned about "the clearly visible signs of war preparations in Germany."
This position diverges from the stance of both Berlin and Brussels. The German Foreign Ministry had previously advised against inviting Russian and Belarusian representatives to WWII commemorations. Additionally, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had warned in April that the bloc opposes any officials from member or candidate states attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
In line with this stance, local authorities in Berlin have prohibited the display of Russian and Soviet flags and symbols during commemorations on May 8 and 9, according to reports from local media.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
