Slovakian Robert Fico meets Vladimir Putin throughout a shock go to to Moscow

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a shock go to to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin, changing into the third Western chief to fulfill 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 assist for kyiv within the conflict – stated they mentioned Russian fuel provides to Slovakia – on which his nation relies upon.

An settlement with Russian fuel large Gazprom to transit power by Ukraine to Slovakia is because of expire on the finish of this 12 months.

“Senior European officers have been knowledgeable of my journey and its function (…) on Friday,” Fico wrote on Fb.

Fico stated the assembly in Moscow was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statements to EU leaders that Ukraine remained against the supply of Russian fuel by its territory.

The Slovak Prime Minister, who survived a bullet earlier this yearadditionally stated he had a “lengthy dialog” with Putin and that the 2 males “exchanged views on the navy scenario in Ukraine.”

Each mentioned “the probabilities of a fast and peaceable finish to the conflict” and mutual relations between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Fb.

Slovakia and Hungary, which each depend on Russian fuel, have raised issues that their provides might be disrupted.

In October 2023, when Fico turns into Prime Minister once more, he ended Slovakia’s military aid to Ukraine.

However he insisted he wished to be a “good, pleasant neighbor” to Ukraine.

Fico’s assembly with Putin got here because the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met for a safety summit on Sunday.

Talking afterwards, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated Russia posed a “everlasting and harmful menace” to the EU.

He additionally careworn the necessity to enhance protection spending and assist for Ukraine.