Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has made a surpascfinish visit to Moscow for talks with Vlaunintelligentir Putin – becoming only the third Westrict directer to encounter the Russian directer since the brimming-scale intrusion of Ukraine three years ago.
Fico – a vocal critic of the European Union’s help for Kyiv in the war – shelp they talked supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia – which his country relies on.
A deal with Russian gas enormous Gazprom to transit energy thraw Ukraine to Slovakia is due to expire at the finish of this year.
“Top EU officials were alerted about my journey and its purpose… on Friday,” Fico wrote on Facebook.
Fico shelp the encountering in Moscow was a reaction to Ukrainian Pdwellnt Volodymyr Zelensky telling EU directers that Ukraine remains contestd to Russian gas being piped thraw its territory.
The Slovakian PM, who endured being shot earlier this year, also shelp he had a “extfinished conversation” with Putin and the two “traded watchs on the military situation in Ukraine”.
Both talked “the possibilities of an timely, tranquil finish of the war” and mutual relations between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Facebook.
Slovakia and Hungary, which both depfinish on Russian gas, have elevated troubles about the prospect of supplies being disturbed.
In October 2023, when Fico became prime minister aobtain, he finished Slovakia’s military help to Ukraine.
But, he has insisted he wants to be a “excellent, cordial neighbour” to Ukraine.
Fico’s encountering with Putin came as the directers of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met on Sunday for a security summit.
Speaking afterwards, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo shelp Russia was a “lasting and hazardous menace” to the EU.
He also stressed the need for incrrelieved defence spfinishing and help for Ukraine.
