Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming the third Western leader to meet Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began three years ago.
Fico, a vocal critic of the European Union’s support for Ukraine, stated that discussions centred on Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, which heavily relies on Moscow for energy. The current deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom, enabling transit through Ukraine, is set to expire at the end of this year.
“Top EU officials were informed about my journey and its purpose… on Friday,” Fico wrote on Facebook.
The visit follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement to EU leaders opposing the continuation of Russian gas pipelines running through Ukrainian territory. Fico’s Moscow trip reflects growing concerns in Slovakia and Hungary, both heavily reliant on Russian energy, about potential disruptions to supply.
Fico said he and Putin had a “long conversation” about the military situation in Ukraine, mutual relations, and possibilities for an “early, peaceful end to the war.”
Despite halting Slovakia’s military aid to Ukraine after resuming office in October 2023, Fico has insisted on maintaining neighbourly relations with Kyiv while questioning EU military support for Ukraine.
Fico’s meeting occurred as EU leaders from Italy, Sweden, Greece, and Finland convened for a security summit. Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, labelled Russia a “permanent and dangerous threat” and emphasised the importance of bolstering defence spending and support for Ukraine.
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