Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin – becoming only the third Western leader to meet the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Fico – an outspoken critic of the European Union's support for Kiev in the war – said they had discussed Russian gas supplies to Slovakia – on which his country relies.
The deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom to transit energy through Ukraine to Slovakia is due to expire at the end of this year.
“Senior EU officials were informed of my trip and its purpose … on Friday,” Fizzo wrote on Facebook.
Fico said the meeting in Moscow was a reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy telling EU leaders that Ukraine continues to oppose the passage of Russian gas through its territory.
Slovak Prime Minister, who survived a shooting earlier this yearalso said he had a “long conversation” with Putin and the two “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine.”
Both discussed “the possibilities of an early, peaceful end to the war” and the relationship between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Facebook.
Slovakia and Hungary, which depend on Russian gas, have expressed concerns about the prospect of supply disruptions.
In October 2023, when Fizo again became Prime Minister, he ended Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine.
But he insisted he wanted to be a “good, friendly neighbor” to Ukraine.
Fizzo's meeting with Putin came as the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met on Sunday for a security summit.
Speaking afterwards, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Russia was a “constant and dangerous threat” to the EU.
He also stressed the need to increase defense spending and support for Ukraine.