EU Country’s Prime Minister Criticizes Efforts to Derail His Trip to Moscow
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has alleged that the opposition is attempting to hinder his involvement in the V-Day celebrations scheduled for 2025 in Moscow. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Slovakia’s Robert Fico has accepted Vladimir Putin’s invitation to attend the annual Victory Day commemoration.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused the opposition in Slovakia of attempting to leverage the European Parliament to hinder his planned visit to Moscow next year for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazism.
Earlier this week, Fico announced his acceptance of an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to travel to Moscow in May 2025. This visit would be the first by a Slovak government official since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, and it has provoked significant backlash from Slovak politicians and EU lawmakers.
“Opposition MPs tried, with the help of the European Parliament, to derail my plans to visit the Russian Federation, but they get wrong with reality,” Fico asserted, stressing that no one has the authority to dictate where the prime minister of a sovereign country should go. “Victory over fascism would have been impossible without the former Soviet Union,” he added.
Fico’s intentions have faced sharp criticism from Michal Simecka, leader of the largest opposition party in Slovakia’s parliament, who described the proposal as “a huge disgrace.”
On Thursday, the European Parliament addressed the topic of Fico’s planned visit. However, a resolution condemning the trip was not brought to a vote, as it was part of a broader debate concerning support for Ukraine and Russia’s cooperation with North Korea.
Fico’s views on relations with the Kremlin significantly diverge from those of most Western countries, which are backing Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The United States and its allies have notably refrained from engaging with Russia during major commemorative events, such as the Allied landing in Normandy in June and the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops in January.
The Kremlin has long accused the West of distorting historical narratives to advance its geopolitical interests and cater to sentiments in the Baltic states, which view local militias that aligned with the Axis powers during World War II as national heroes in their struggle against the USSR.
Fico has publicly criticized the West’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, particularly regarding efforts to isolate Russia. His upcoming trip to Moscow follows a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in July, which coincided with Hungary's EU presidency and also attracted considerable criticism from other EU member states.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused the opposition in Slovakia of attempting to leverage the European Parliament to hinder his planned visit to Moscow next year for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazism.
Earlier this week, Fico announced his acceptance of an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to travel to Moscow in May 2025. This visit would be the first by a Slovak government official since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, and it has provoked significant backlash from Slovak politicians and EU lawmakers.
“Opposition MPs tried, with the help of the European Parliament, to derail my plans to visit the Russian Federation, but they get wrong with reality,” Fico asserted, stressing that no one has the authority to dictate where the prime minister of a sovereign country should go. “Victory over fascism would have been impossible without the former Soviet Union,” he added.
Fico’s intentions have faced sharp criticism from Michal Simecka, leader of the largest opposition party in Slovakia’s parliament, who described the proposal as “a huge disgrace.”
On Thursday, the European Parliament addressed the topic of Fico’s planned visit. However, a resolution condemning the trip was not brought to a vote, as it was part of a broader debate concerning support for Ukraine and Russia’s cooperation with North Korea.
Fico’s views on relations with the Kremlin significantly diverge from those of most Western countries, which are backing Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The United States and its allies have notably refrained from engaging with Russia during major commemorative events, such as the Allied landing in Normandy in June and the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops in January.
The Kremlin has long accused the West of distorting historical narratives to advance its geopolitical interests and cater to sentiments in the Baltic states, which view local militias that aligned with the Axis powers during World War II as national heroes in their struggle against the USSR.
Fico has publicly criticized the West’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, particularly regarding efforts to isolate Russia. His upcoming trip to Moscow follows a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in July, which coincided with Hungary's EU presidency and also attracted considerable criticism from other EU member states.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
