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.
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, often labeled “pro-Russian” by his opponents, also plans to travel to Moscow in May 2025 after accepting an invitation to the World War II commemorations on May 9, the Slovak government said in November.
The Slovak leader has repeatedly criticized the EU and NATO’s policies towards Ukraine.
Slovakia, a member of both the EU and NATO, 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
