Military sources in Naypyidaw have confirmed that despite security concerns arising from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement about not guaranteeing the safety of international leaders attending the 80th Victory Day celebration on Moscow’s Red Square, Min Aung Hlaing has decided to proceed with his visit to Russia. The concerns emerged after Zelenskyy rejected Russia’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 and declared that Ukraine could not take responsibility for the safety of visiting leaders.
President Zelenskyy explicitly stated that Ukraine cannot be responsible for events occurring within Russian territory, emphasizing that Russia must bear sole responsibility for security arrangements. The ceremony, scheduled for May 9, has invited leaders from more than 20 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and representatives from Belarus and Serbia. Despite the growing security concerns among military officials in Naypyidaw following Zelenskyy’s statement, Min Aung Hlaing remains committed to attending the event.
According to military sources, Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to depart from Naypyidaw on May 7 aboard Myanmar Airways International (MAI) Airbus flight XY-ALK. He will be accompanied by several high-ranking military officials from the army, navy, and air force. The decision to proceed with the visit comes despite heightened concerns among military leadership in Naypyidaw regarding the security situation, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Zelenskyy’s recent statements about being unable to guarantee the safety of foreign leaders attending the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
