Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has made a shock go to to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin – changing into solely the third Western chief to satisfy the Russian chief for the reason that full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years in the past.
Fico – a vocal critic of the European Union’s help for Kyiv within the warfare – stated they mentioned provides of Russian gasoline to Slovakia – which his nation depends on.
A cope with Russian gasoline large Gazprom to transit vitality by Ukraine to Slovakia is because of expire on the finish of this 12 months.
“Top EU officers have been knowledgeable about my journey and its goal… on Friday,” Fico wrote on Facebook.
Fico stated the assembly in Moscow was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telling EU leaders that Ukraine stays against Russian gasoline being piped by its territory.
The Slovakian PM, who survived being shot earlier this 12 months, additionally stated he had a “lengthy dialog” with Putin and the 2 “exchanged views on the army scenario in Ukraine”.
Both mentioned “the chances of an early, peaceable finish of the warfare” and mutual relations between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Facebook.
Slovakia and Hungary, which each depend upon Russian gasoline, have raised considerations in regards to the prospect of provides being interrupted.
In October 2023, when Fico grew to become prime minister once more, he ended Slovakia’s army help to Ukraine.
But, he has insisted he needs to be a “good, pleasant neighbour” to Ukraine.
Fico’s assembly with Putin got here because the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met on Sunday for a safety summit.
Speaking afterwards, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated Russia was a “everlasting and harmful risk” to the EU.
He additionally harassed the necessity for elevated defence spending and help for Ukraine.
