Slovak Prime Minister Makes Surprise Visit to Moscow for Talks with Putin

 

    Robert Fico has consistently expressed his opposition to the West's policy of supplying arms to Ukraine.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming only the third Western leader to meet with the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Fico, a vocal critic of the European Union's support for Ukraine in the war, stated that discussions focused on Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, which heavily depends on them. A crucial deal with Gazprom for the transit of gas through Ukraine to Slovakia is set to expire at the end of the year.

"Top EU officials were informed about my journey and its purpose... on Friday," Fico wrote on Facebook.

The visit has been met with criticism from opposition parties in Slovakia and neighboring EU and NATO ally Czech Republic. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky remarked that his country had achieved energy independence from Russia and expressed sympathy for Ukrainians unable to be with their families this Christmas due to Putin's actions.

In Slovakia, Michal Simecka of the Progressive Slovakia party accused Fico of turning the country into a tool for Russian propaganda, calling the trip a "disgrace for Slovakia and a betrayal of national interests."

Fico explained that the meeting was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement to EU leaders, where he reaffirmed Ukraine’s opposition to Russian gas transits through its territory. Fico, who survived an assassination attempt earlier this year, also revealed that he had a "long conversation" with Putin, discussing the military situation in Ukraine, the potential for a peaceful end to the war, and bilateral relations between Russia and Slovakia.

Slovakia and Hungary, both reliant on Russian gas, have expressed concerns over possible interruptions to supplies.

Since Fico's return as prime minister in October 2023, he halted Slovakia’s military aid to Ukraine but maintains that he aims to be a "good, friendly neighbor" to Kyiv.

Fico’s Moscow visit coincided with a security summit held in Italy, where leaders from Sweden, Greece, and Finland discussed increased defense spending and support for Ukraine. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasized that Russia remains a "permanent and dangerous threat" to the EU.