Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has made a surprise trip to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin – becoming only the third Western leader to meet the Russian leader since the massive invasion of Ukraine three years ago .
Fico – who is a vocal protester of the European Union's support for Kyiv in the war – said that they discussed the supply of Russian gas to Slovakia – on which his country depends.
An agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom to transfer power through the Ukraine to Slovakia expires at the end of this year.
“The main EU officials were informed about my visit and its purpose… on Friday,” Fico wrote on Facebook.
Fico said the meeting in Moscow was in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telling EU leaders that Ukraine remains opposed to Russian gas being piped through the territory. his.
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, who survived being shot earlier this yearalso that he had a “long conversation” with Putin and the two “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine”.
The two discussed “the possibilities for an early, peaceful end to the war” and the relationship between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Facebook.
Slovakia and Hungary, which both rely on Russian gas, have raised concerns about the prospect of supply cuts.
In October 2023, when Fico became prime minister again, ended Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine.
However, he has been adamant that he wants to be a “good, friendly neighbor” to Ukraine.
Fico's meeting with Putin came as the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met on Sunday for a security summit.
Speaking afterwards, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Russia was a “permanent and dangerous threat” to the EU.
He also emphasized the need for increased defense spending and aid to Ukraine.
