ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday accused "some figures" in Europe of blocking his country’s path to EU membership “for the sake of better seats on Red Square.”

“We are sorry that some figures in Europe are blocking this process. Not for the sake of the interests of their own countries, but for the sake of getting a better seat on the podium on Red Square,” Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague, without disclosing any specific figures or countries.

Zelenskyy’s remarks come ahead of an annual military parade to be held in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.

Victory Day is a holiday celebrated in Russia and various former Soviet countries on May 9 in commemoration of Nazi Germany’s surrender during World War II, a conflict Russia officially calls the Great Patriotic War.

“And for all of us in Europe, it is important that European values ​​truly dominate. Values, not the whims of individual politicians,” Zelenskyy said, noting Kyiv’s readiness to open the first clusters in Ukraine’s EU accession process this year.

Commenting on the upcoming parade in the Russian capital, Zelenskyy said Ukraine does not rule out "provocations" from the Russian side on Friday, claiming that they have "no faith" in Moscow's commitment to the unilateral ceasefire.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day unilateral ceasefire beginning on May 8 and ending on May 11.

The dates coincide with Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9.

Zelenskyy rejected the unilateral ceasefire, going on to voice Kyiv's support for a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire.

"Putin really wants to show off tanks at a parade, but he should think not about this, but about the real end of his war," he said.

The Ukrainian president said that, as part of the artillery initiative led by Prague to supply Ukraine with large-caliber munitions, Kyiv may receive 1.8 million artillery shells this year, which he described as a "strong decision."

The Ukrainian president also announced the establishment of a joint school for F-16 training, which he said would be located outside of Ukraine, and that this was discussed today between him and Pavel, as well as government and military officials from both countries.