Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico paid an unexpected visit to Russia to meet the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He is only the third Western leader to meet with the Russian leader since the outbreak of a full-scale invasion in Ukraine three years ago. Fico has always been a legitimate critic of the European Union’s (EU) support for Ukraine in the war. He stated they discussed the supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia as it depended on them.
An energy transit agreement signed with the Russian giant Gazprom through Ukraine to Slovakia shall lapse by the end of the year. Fico stated that the top EU officials knew of his visit and the reason for it on Friday.
Domestic opposition parties have not received the trip well, as it finds an ally in the neighboring EU and NATO member state Czech Republic. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky stated that his country provided itself with energy independence from Russia and expressed solidarity with Ukrainians unable to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones due to Putin’s actions.
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In Bratislava, Michal Simecka of Progressive Slovakia condemned Fico, stating that he caused his state to become a tool for the Russian leader’s propaganda, adding that this trip is a “disgrace for Slovakia and a betrayal of the national interests”.
Fico said the meeting in Moscow was in reaction to remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to EU leaders that Kyiv did not acquiesce in the transiting of Russian gas through its territory. He added that he had detailed talks with Putin about the military situation in Ukraine and discussed “the possibilities of an early, peaceful end of the war” as well as mutual ties between Russia and Slovakia.