Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday during a previously unannounced visit to the Kremlin for talks, Russian state media reported, sparking consternation among opposition lawmakers in Bratislava.
It was the first visit by an official representative of Slovakia to Russia since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trips to Moscow by leaders of any EU country have become increasingly rare.
Fico may have wanted to talk to Putin about natural gas supplies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Little else has been said about the subject of the conversations.
Fico, who is often labeled “pro-Russian” by his opponents, also plans to travel to Moscow in May 2025 after accepting an invitation to the centenary commemoration of World War II on May 9, the Slovak government said in November.
The Slovak leader has repeatedly criticized the European Union and NATO’s policies towards Ukraine. Slovakia is a member of both organizations.
Slovak opposition politicians reacted with outrage to Fico’s trip. “The prime minister should discuss gas transit for Slovakia in Kiev,” Michal Simecka, the leader of the largest opposition party, told TASR news agency.
By visiting Putin, Fico is “just playing an unfair game with his voters,” according to the leader of the liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS). “And in doing so he is betraying his own country and leading us away from Europe step by step.”
Even stronger words came from Branislav Gröhling, leader of the smaller liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS).
“Robert Fico is a disgrace to Slovakia. He does not behave like the head of the government of a sovereign country, but like an ordinary collaborator.” Fico does not speak for the entire Slovak nation, Gröhling said.
In recent days, Fico has tried in vain to prevent Ukraine’s announced end to the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia.
Slovakia may be facing a deep crisis because it is completely dependent on Russian gas and has few alternatives, Fico has repeatedly said.
Slovakia had therefore received permission from the EU to continue purchasing Russian gas. However, this EU approval is worthless for Bratislava, because neighboring Ukraine will no longer allow the transit of Russian gas from the turn of the year.
This led to a difficult exchange between Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a recent summit, both politicians confirmed.
Zelensky said that while Slovakia has only economic problems, his country is losing lives every day.
Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine. And Slovakia, unlike Hungary, has so far supported all EU aid packages to Ukraine and all sanctions against Russia.
But left-wing populist Fico often publicly criticizes Western policies towards Ukraine. He has repeatedly called on the EU to mediate a peace settlement rather than “prolong the killing and destruction in Ukraine” by supplying weapons.
Relative to its population size, Slovakia was one of Ukraine’s most committed military supporters when the Kremlin launched its invasion.
When he returned to power in October 2023, Fico ended direct arms supplies from army stockpiles. However, the Slovak arms industry continues to produce military goods for Ukraine on a commercial basis.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to their meeting. -/Kremlin Press Office/dpa
