Fico Meets Putin in Moscow, Delivers Zelensky Message

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after returning from Moscow that Slovakia rejects a "new Iron Curtain" between the European Union and Russia and seeks "standard and friendly relations" with Moscow. Fico attended Victory Day celebrations in Russia and met President Vladimir Putin, with talks lasting two hours and covering bilateral relations, energy, the international situation and the war in Ukraine.

Fico said that "equal political dialogue" should be conducted with Russia and announced the resumption of the Slovak-Russian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation. Its next meeting is to take place in Moscow, co-chaired on Slovakia's behalf by Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar.

The prime minister criticized the EU's efforts to cut ties with Russian energy, describing them as ideological and harmful. He also conveyed to Putin a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing readiness for a meeting in any format. Putin responded that if Kyiv was interested in negotiations, Zelensky should contact him directly.

Fico also mentioned a meeting with Zelensky in Yerevan and separate talks in Bavaria. He added that he would travel to Handlova on 15 May, exactly two years after the assassination attempt in which he was seriously injured.

(lud)