Russian President Vladimir Putin Hosts Slovakia’s Prime Minister in Rare EU Leader Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico in a rare visit to the Kremlin by an EU leader since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Fico arrived in Russia on a “working visit” and met with Putin one-on-one on Sunday evening, with talks expected to focus on the international situation and Russian natural gas deliveries.
The visit comes as Slovakia prepares for a possible halt to Russian supplies through Ukraine, with the country signing a short-term pilot contract to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan and striking a deal to import U.S. liquefied natural gas through a pipeline from Poland. Slovakia can also receive gas through Austrian, Hungarian, and Czech networks, enabling imports from Germany and other potential suppliers.
Fico’s views on Russia’s war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. He has ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine, hit out at EU sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. Fico has also been a rare senior EU politician to appear on Russian state TV following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and has declared his willingness to negotiate with Putin.
The visit drew attention as it was the first time an EU leader had visited Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine. The visit was seen as a significant departure from the stance of most other European leaders, who have condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow.