Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in a beforehand unannounced go to to the Kremlin on Sunday for talks, Russian state media reported, resulting in dismay amongst opposition lawmakers in Bratislava.
It was the primary go to by an official consultant from Slovakia to Russia since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Journeys to Moscow by leaders of any EU nation have turn out to be more and more uncommon.
Fico might have needed to speak to Putin about pure gasoline provides, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned. Little else has been provided concerning the topic of the talks.
Fico, usually slammed by his opponents as “pro-Russian,” additionally plans to journey to Moscow in Might 2025, having accepted an invite to the World Battle II centennial commemorations on Might 9, the Slovakian authorities mentioned in November.
The Slovakian chief has regularly criticized European Union and NATO coverage on Ukraine. Slovakia is a member of each organizations.
Slovakian opposition politicians responded to Fico’s journey with outrage. “The prime minister ought to focus on gasoline transit for Slovakia in Kiev,” mentioned Michal Simecka, the chief of the most important opposition celebration, to the TASR information company.
By travelling to see Putin, Fico is “solely taking part in a dishonest recreation together with his voters,” mentioned the chief of the liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS). “And in doing so, he’s betraying his personal nation and main us step-by-step away from Europe.”
Even stronger phrases got here from Branislav Gröhling, chief of the smaller liberal opposition celebration Freedom and Solidarity (SaS).
“Robert Fico is a shame for Slovakia. He isn’t behaving like the top of presidency of a sovereign nation, however like an strange collaborator.” Fico doesn’t communicate for the whole Slovakian nation, Gröhling mentioned.
Fico spent the previous days attempting in useless to avert the tip of the transit of Russian gasoline to Slovakia, introduced by Ukraine.
Slovakia probably faces a deep disaster as it’s fully depending on Russian gasoline, with few options, Fico has repeatedly mentioned.
Slovakia had subsequently been given permission by the EU to proceed to buy Russian gasoline. Nonetheless, this EU approval is nugatory for Bratislava as neighbouring Ukraine will not enable the transit of Russian gasoline as of the flip of the yr.
That led to a troublesome change between Fico and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a latest summit, each politicians confirmed.
Zelensky mentioned whereas Slovakia solely has financial issues, his nation is shedding human lives each day.
Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine. And Slovakia, not like Hungary, has to this point supported the entire EU’s assist packages for Ukraine, and all sanctions on Russia.
However left-wing populist Fico usually publicly criticizes Western coverage on Ukraine. He has repeatedly referred to as on the EU to mediate a peace settlement as an alternative of “prolonging the killing and destruction in Ukraine” by supplying weapons.
In relation to its inhabitants dimension, Slovakia was certainly one of Ukraine’s most dedicated navy supporters when the Kremlin launched its invasion.
When he returned to energy in October 2023, Fico ended direct arms deliveries from military shares. Nonetheless, the Slovak arms business continues to supply navy items for Ukraine on a business foundation.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin forward of their assembly. -/Kremlin Press Workplace/dpa
