The spokesman added that 17 foreign leaders have confirmed their attendance in the Russian capital on May 9 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II (1939-1945).

Top dignitaries from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Ossetia, Palestine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela, as well as high-ranking guests from Vietnam and Republika Srpska, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are expected to participate.

Meanwhile, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, urged the leaders of European Union member countries and candidates for membership in the bloc to avoid traveling to Moscow to commemorate the date.

jrr/arm/ro/gfa