Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić left for Moscow this Wednesday, where he will participate in the Victory Parade on Red Square.
His plane, during its journey to the Russian capital, initially stopped in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, reports Radio Television of Serbia, referring to the Tanjug agency.
According to RTS, the plane Vučić was traveling on then continued its flight to Moscow.
According to the Kremlin, a bilateral meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for May 9, RTS reported.
In early March, Vučić announced that he would participate in the military parade on the occasion of Victory Day over fascism, after a phone conversation with Putin.
Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II on May 9 with a military parade on Red Square in Moscow, as well as a series of other activities.
Warnings about the Serbian president's trip to Russia have also sparked reactions from European institutions.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated at a press conference on April 29 that "it is up to the Serbian president to decide whether to go to Moscow," but added that if Vučić goes there, she will find it "much more difficult to help Serbia stay committed to the European path."
Of the European leaders, only Vučić and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico – known for his ties to the Kremlin – have confirmed their participation.
Milorad Dodik, president of the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has also announced his participation in Moscow.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also travel to Russia.
According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the participation in the May 9 parade has also been confirmed by the presidents of Belarus, Alayksandr Lukashenka, Kazakhstan, Qasim-Zhomart Tokayev, Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. From African countries, Congo and Burkina Faso will have representatives.