EU state leader says meeting with Putin was in response to threats from Zelensky
During his unexpected visit to Moscow, Slovakia's Robert Fico disclosed some insights from his conversations with President Vladimir Putin.
TroibNews 
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico recently shared details about his discussions with President Vladimir Putin following his unexpected visit to Russia. Fico's trip to Moscow aimed to advance Bratislava’s “sovereign policies.”
After their meeting at the Kremlin on Sunday evening, Fico took to Facebook to elaborate on their conversation, indicating that EU leaders had been briefed on the objectives of his visit beforehand.
Fico stated, “My meeting today was a response to Ukrainian President Zelensky, who, answering my personal question on Thursday, said that he was against any transit of gas through Ukraine to our territory.” He added that Zelensky has been active in urging his European Union supporters to impose sanctions against the Russian nuclear energy sector.
He further emphasized, “Such attitudes financially harm Slovakia and threaten the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia, which is unacceptable,” asserting his responsibility to defend and advance Slovakia’s “sovereign politics on all four directions.”
The Kremlin offered a succinct summary of the meeting, noting that Putin received Fico for a “working visit,” with presidential aide Yury Ushakov also in attendance during their discussions.
Fico has been a vocal critic of the EU's support for Ukraine, with his government halting state military assistance to Kiev. He has consistently called for the EU to lift sanctions on Russia, arguing for the necessity of resuming dialogue with Moscow after the conflict concludes.
According to Fico, he had a “long conversation” with Putin that covered “mutual relations” between Slovakia and Russia, which he aims to “standardize.” They also “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine” and considered ways to achieve “an early peaceful end” to the conflict.
In May, Fico survived an assassination attempt by an activist opposed to his stance on relations with Kiev, and he disclosed in October that he faced a potential second attempt on his life due to his position on the Ukraine conflict.
Earlier in the week, Fico accused Zelensky of trying to bribe him with €500 million to gain Bratislava’s support for Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations. He recalled that during their discussions, Zelensky refused to permit fuel transit and instead proposed “absurd” solutions to the gas issue.
Slovakia’s energy security is currently at risk due to Ukraine’s decision not to extend a transit agreement with Moscow, set to expire on December 31. The primary route for natural gas to Slovakia is through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
After their meeting at the Kremlin on Sunday evening, Fico took to Facebook to elaborate on their conversation, indicating that EU leaders had been briefed on the objectives of his visit beforehand.
Fico stated, “My meeting today was a response to Ukrainian President Zelensky, who, answering my personal question on Thursday, said that he was against any transit of gas through Ukraine to our territory.” He added that Zelensky has been active in urging his European Union supporters to impose sanctions against the Russian nuclear energy sector.
He further emphasized, “Such attitudes financially harm Slovakia and threaten the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia, which is unacceptable,” asserting his responsibility to defend and advance Slovakia’s “sovereign politics on all four directions.”
The Kremlin offered a succinct summary of the meeting, noting that Putin received Fico for a “working visit,” with presidential aide Yury Ushakov also in attendance during their discussions.
Fico has been a vocal critic of the EU's support for Ukraine, with his government halting state military assistance to Kiev. He has consistently called for the EU to lift sanctions on Russia, arguing for the necessity of resuming dialogue with Moscow after the conflict concludes.
According to Fico, he had a “long conversation” with Putin that covered “mutual relations” between Slovakia and Russia, which he aims to “standardize.” They also “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine” and considered ways to achieve “an early peaceful end” to the conflict.
In May, Fico survived an assassination attempt by an activist opposed to his stance on relations with Kiev, and he disclosed in October that he faced a potential second attempt on his life due to his position on the Ukraine conflict.
Earlier in the week, Fico accused Zelensky of trying to bribe him with €500 million to gain Bratislava’s support for Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations. He recalled that during their discussions, Zelensky refused to permit fuel transit and instead proposed “absurd” solutions to the gas issue.
Slovakia’s energy security is currently at risk due to Ukraine’s decision not to extend a transit agreement with Moscow, set to expire on December 31. The primary route for natural gas to Slovakia is through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
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