Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine, signaling potential progress towards resolving the ongoing conflict.
The statement followed a meeting in the Kremlin with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has advocated for negotiations rather than European Union military support for Ukraine.
According to Putin, Slovakia’s authorities expressed their willingness to offer their country as a neutral platform for negotiations. Putin said the Slovakian authorities “…would be happy to provide their own country as a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position.”
Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar confirmed the country’s commitment to fostering peace and called Putin’s remarks a “positive signal” towards ending the war. Blanar stated that Slovakia had already communicated this option to Ukrainian representatives, emphasising the nation’s readiness to support the peace process.
Slovakia’s stance reflects a growing group of EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe that are skeptical of military aid to Ukraine and favor diplomatic solutions. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Slovakia’s pro-Russian tone since Fico’s return to power in 2023.
Despite indicating openness to peace talks, Putin reiterated Russia’s resolve to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. He also noted that while Russia could deploy its new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, Oreshnik, or other advanced weaponry if necessary, there was currently no urgency to do so.
“We do not exclude the possibility of using it both today and tomorrow, if necessary,” Putin said.
The proposed peace talks come amid ongoing tensions and highlight Slovakia’s diplomatic push to mediate between the two nations. However, it remains unclear how Ukraine will respond to the offer, given its strained relations with the Slovak government and skepticism about Russia’s intentions.
Melissa Enoch
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