MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will not attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow in May, the prime minister's press secretary said in an interview with the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.
On May 9, Russia will observe the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in the World War II.
The reason why Lofven abstained from visiting Moscow was Russia's policy toward Ukraine, Anne Ekberg told the Swedish daily Sunday.
Sweden highly appreciates Russia's contribution to the victory and end of World War II, Ekberg emphasized.
However, taking into consideration the Ukrainian crisis, Sweden's government representatives found it difficult to attend the Victory Day parade, the local newspaper cited the prime minister's press secretary as saying.
On Saturday, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov said leaders of at least 25 states and several international organizations will attend the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.
Moscow has sent invitations to a number of world leaders to attend the Victory Parade. Among the countries that preliminary confirmed their intent to arrive in Moscow are Cuba, China, India and North Korea.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, European Council President Donald Tusk declined an invitation to attend the military parade.
The leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the United States will not attend the parade either.
