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 into more and more uncommon.
Fico could have needed to speak to Putin about pure fuel provides, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated. Little else has been supplied in regards to the topic of the talks.
Fico, typically slammed by his opponents as “pro-Russian,” additionally plans to journey to Moscow in Could 2025, having accepted an invite to the World Conflict II centennial commemorations on Could 9, the Slovakian authorities stated in November.
The Slovakian chief has steadily 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 fuel transit for Slovakia in Kiev,” stated Michal Simecka, the chief of the most important opposition occasion, to the TASR information company.
By travelling to see Putin, Fico is “solely taking part in a dishonest recreation along with his voters,” stated 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 occasion 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 peculiar collaborator.” Fico doesn’t communicate for your entire Slovakian nation, Gröhling stated.
Fico spent the previous days making an attempt in useless to avert the tip of the transit of Russian fuel to Slovakia, introduced by Ukraine.
Slovakia doubtlessly faces a deep disaster as it’s utterly depending on Russian fuel, with few alternate options, Fico has repeatedly stated.
Slovakia had due to this fact been given permission by the EU to proceed to buy Russian fuel. Nevertheless, this EU approval is nugatory for Bratislava as neighbouring Ukraine will now not enable the transit of Russian fuel as of the flip of the 12 months.
That led to a troublesome change between Fico and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a current summit, each politicians confirmed.
Zelensky stated whereas Slovakia solely has financial issues, his nation is shedding human lives every day.
Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine. And Slovakia, in contrast to Hungary, has thus far supported the entire EU’s help packages for Ukraine, and all sanctions on Russia.
However left-wing populist Fico typically publicly criticizes Western coverage on Ukraine. He has repeatedly known as on the EU to mediate a peace settlement as a substitute of “prolonging the killing and destruction in Ukraine” by supplying weapons.
In relation to its inhabitants measurement, Slovakia was considered 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. Nevertheless, the Slovak arms trade continues to supply navy items for Ukraine on a industrial foundation.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin forward of their assembly. -/Kremlin Press Workplace/dpa
