The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, said that he has offered his country as a meeting place for possible talks about ending the war in Ukraine.
“If anyone turns to us and is interested in organizing peace talks in Slovakia about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, they can count on our hospitality,” Fico said in a video message announced on Facebook late Friday.
He said that he had discussed the proposal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to Moscow and that he was pleased with the positive attitude.
Putin had already said on Friday that Fico had offered his country as a platform when he visited Moscow and welcomed this initiative.
The left-wing publicist Fico draws attention again and again through public criticism of Western policy towards Ukraine. His visit to Putin has drawn strong criticism from the EU and Ukraine.
Fico threatens to cut electricity to Ukraine
Fico sent his offer to mediate in Russia's attack on Ukraine with a threat against Kiev. If Ukraine stops the transfer of Russian gas to Slovakia as planned on January 1, “appropriate measures” will be taken, Fico warned.
“If it is not unavoidable, we will cut off the electricity supply that Ukraine urgently needs when it has supply bottlenecks,” he said.
Kiev has promised to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory on January 1, which has angered Slovakia.
Ukraine will lose the transfer fees, which were still being paid despite the fighting. But he wants to give Russia the opportunity to earn money for its war by exporting gas to Europe.
