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Cypriot Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou traveled to Moscow on Friday, joining German and Slovak lawmakers in a politically sensitive visit coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day.
Panayiotou is traveling alongside MEPs from Germany’s Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and Slovakia’s SMER party, according to Politico. The visit has sparked criticism amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and follows recent comments by Panayiotou, who called continued European support for Kyiv “insane and inhumane,” arguing Ukraine “will never win on the battlefield.”
A spokesperson for Panayiotou said he will not attend Russia’s military parade but chose to go to Moscow to promote dialogue. “He was given the opportunity to go to Russia and yes, he will go,” the spokesperson said. “We need to speak with the Russians; we need to pursue diplomacy.”
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed the visit during a plenary session Wednesday, urging lawmakers to consider the broader consequences. “Everyone must seriously weigh their responsibilities and understand how their actions could impact our efforts and be interpreted or used,” she said. “With Ukrainians still fighting for their freedom, I urge everyone to act with caution.”
A spokesperson for the Parliament said the MEPs involved are traveling in a personal capacity and must declare their participation in the public transparency register if their expenses are being covered by an outside source.
With information from Politico.
