The top politicians from 26 countries as well as representatives of UNESCO and the Council of Europe have already expressed their intentions to visit Moscow on May 9 in order to participate in Victory Day celebrations.

      The list of top guests currently includes the leaders of China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus, according to Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister. Lavrov also stressed that some of the European leaders accepted Russia’s invitation despite of recent contradictionss between Russia and EU as well as two-sided sanctions.

      However, several European leaders including Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk declined Moscow's invitation to the event because of Russia's assumed involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

      On May 9, Moscow is expected to become the center of the grandiose celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in the Second World War.