Slovak Prime Minister's Moscow Meeting with Putin Sparks Controversy

In a surprise diplomatic move, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico traveled to Moscow for discussions with President Vladimir Putin, becoming one of the few Western leaders to engage directly with Russia since the Ukraine conflict escalated.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has generated significant controversy following his unexpected visit to Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin to discuss matters relating to energy supplies. The visit marks Fico as the third Western leader to engage with Putin since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Fico, a staunch opponent of the European Union's military support for Ukraine, underscored that discussions focused on Slovakia's dependence on Russian gas. A vital agreement with Russian gas firm Gazprom, which facilitates gas transit through Ukraine, is set to expire at year-end, with Ukraine indicating it won't renew it. Fico has expressed a belief that Putin has been "wrongly demonised" by Western nations.

This visit contradicts the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, which mandates member states uphold a united stance against Russia. The EU has imposed several sanctions on Russia after the invasion began in February 2022. Notably, Fico was not alone in challenging this consensus; Hungary's Viktor Orban and Austria's Karl Nehammer have also visited Moscow recently.

Fico claimed that top EU officials were briefed regarding his trip prior to departure. He mentioned that Putin assured him of continued gas supplies to Slovakia, although he acknowledged that fulfilling this would be "practically impossible" without Ukraine's cooperation.

The domestic response to Fico's visit has been mixed, facing backlash from opposition parties and neighboring countries like the Czech Republic. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky criticized the visit, emphasizing his country's successful energy independence from Russia and reflecting on the plight of Ukrainians affected by the conflict. In Slovakia, opposition figures like Michal Simecka condemned the trip as a "betrayal" of national interests, asserting it served as propaganda for the Kremlin.

Nevertheless, some members of Fico's party defended his visit, arguing it was primarily aimed at securing more affordable gas imports for Slovakia. Given Slovakia's reliance on Russian energy, alongside Hungary, concerns loom over potential supply interruptions.

Since reclaiming the office in October 2023, Fico has halted military aid to Ukraine but maintains that he aims to be a "good neighbor" to the eastern nation. His recent discussions with Putin occurred as other European leaders, including those from Italy, Sweden, Greece, and Finland, convened for a security summit. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reaffirmed that Russia poses a "permanent and dangerous threat" to the EU, reinforcing the call for heightened defense spending and unwavering support for Ukraine.