Slovak Prime Minister Fico Surprises with Moscow Visit to Meet Putin, Talks About Ukraine Conflict and Gas Transit

In a surprising development that has attracted global interest, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico engaged in direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an unscheduled trip to Moscow. The Kremlin verified the meeting, indicating it is the third time an EU leader has visited Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022.

Fico, known for his outspoken critique of the European Union’s backing of Ukraine, talked about “a peaceful resolution to the conflict” and the prospects of Russian gas transportation to Slovakia through Ukraine. In a Facebook post following the meeting, Fico highlighted that leading EU officials were notified about his journey. He additionally emphasized worries expressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is against extending the gas transit treaty between Russia and Slovakia, which is due to end on January 1, 2025.

“Russian President V. Putin has affirmed the Russian Federation’s willingness to maintain gas deliveries to the West and Slovakia, although this will be nearly impossible due to Ukraine’s position,” Fico remarked.

At present, Russian gas is being supplied to Slovakia and various other European nations under a five-year contract established prior to the conflict. Nevertheless, Slovakia is getting ready for a possible disruption in supplies by broadening its sources. Recent agreements feature a pilot contract with Azerbaijan for natural gas and arrangements for U.S. liquefied natural gas imports through Poland.

While Fico portrayed the visit as a move toward “normalizing Slovak-Russian relations,” opposition lawmakers in Slovakia criticized the trip as a “shame.” The meeting also ignited criticism similar to that faced by Austrian and Hungarian leaders during their prior visits to Moscow amid the ongoing war.