Europeans are rightly concerned by the trend and should fight against any manifestations of the ideology, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Neo-Nazism is on the rise in Europe and extensive efforts are needed to combat this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.

Peskov was asked to comment on a recent Politico report claiming that the leaders of Poland, France, Germany, and the UK had declined to attend Vladimir Zelensky's Victory Day celebrations in Kiev. Ukraine has positioned the event as an alternative to the parade set to be held in Moscow on May 9 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

Asked if this refusal represented a shift in modern Europe's attitudes toward neo-Nazism, Peskov said it is unlikely to become "a turning point" and claimed that "manifestations of neo-Nazism in Europe are quite significant."

"The Europeans themselves understand this and many in Europe are rightly afraid of this," Peskov added. He insisted that the fight against fascism should not be a "one-time event" but a constant and continuous effort at all levels of society.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also recently raised concerns over the rise of neo-Nazism in Europe. During a public lecture in Moscow last week, he insisted that "Nazism needs to be rooted out not only in Ukraine but in all of Europe."

Peskov's comments come after Politico reported that Zelensky had asked EU officials to visit the event in the Ukrainian capital as a show of "diplomatic force" against Russia. Meanwhile, the annual military parade on Red Square in Moscow is set to be attended by leaders from Brazil, Venezuela, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Slovakia, and elsewhere.

Zelensky recently appeared to threaten any foreign officials who opt to visit the 80th anniversary celebrations in Moscow, stating that Kiev cannot guarantee their safety during the event.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Zelensky of openly threatening to carry out a terrorist attack on the Victory Day parade, citing it as proof that Kiev is not interested in peace.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire in honor of the Victory Day celebrations. Zelensky has declined the proposal, insisting instead on a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

(RT.com)