Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow on Sunday, marking a uncommon go to by an EU chief to the Kremlin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Fico arrived in Russia on a “working visit” and met with Putin one-on-one on Sunday night, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed Russia’s RIA news company. According to Peskov, the talks had been anticipated to concentrate on “the international situation” and Russian pure gasoline deliveries.
Russian pure gasoline nonetheless flows to some European international locations, together with Slovakia, by way of Ukraine below a five-year settlement signed earlier than the battle that is because of expire on the finish of this 12 months.
At a summit in Brussels on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed EU leaders that Kyiv has no intention of renewing the deal, one thing Fico insisted will hurt his nation’s pursuits.
Fico stated on Facebook after assembly with Putin that he knowledgeable European Union leaders about his journey on Friday.
He stated the talks in Moscow had been a response to what Zelenskyy instructed him Thursday in Brussels that he’s in opposition to any gasoline transit to Slovakia by way of Ukraine.
Fico additionally stated that Zelenskyy is in favor of sanctions in opposition to Russia’s nuclear program, which he stated was unacceptable and in opposition to the curiosity of his nation that depends on nuclear vitality.
Fico stated Putin confirmed to him that Russia continues to be able to ship gasoline to the West. He stated the 2 additionally mentioned the army state of affairs in Ukraine, possibilities for a peaceable resolution to the battle and the bilateral relations between their two international locations which Fico stated they might search to “standardize.”
His journey was condemned by the key Slovak opposition events.
Slovakia final month signed a short-term pilot contract to purchase pure gasoline from Azerbaijan, because it prepares for a doable halt to Russian provides by way of Ukraine. Earlier this 12 months, it struck a deal to import U.S. liquefied pure gasoline by way of a pipeline from Poland.
The nation may obtain gasoline by way of Austrian, Hungarian and Czech networks, enabling imports from Germany amongst different potential suppliers.
Visits and telephone calls from European leaders to Putin have been uncommon since Moscow despatched troops into Ukraine, though Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Russia in July and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with the Russian chief simply weeks into the full-scale battle. Both journeys drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.
Orban, broadly seen as having the warmest relations with Putin amongst EU leaders, has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to help Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.
He has lengthy argued for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine however with out outlining what that may imply for the nation’s territorial integrity or future safety.
Fico’s views on Russia’s battle on Ukraine differ sharply from most different European leaders. The Slovakian PM returned to energy final 12 months after his leftist celebration Smer (Direction) gained parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his nation’s army assist for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to dam Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO.
Fico has additionally been a uncommon senior EU politician to seem on Russian state TV following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with the Rossiya-1 channel in October, he contended the West has “prolonged the war” by supporting Ukraine, including that sanctions in opposition to Russia had been ineffective. He declared that he was prepared to barter with Putin.
Fico additionally vowed to attend a army parade in Moscow subsequent May that can mark the eightieth anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
The Kremlin has used the annual “Victory Day” celebrations to tout its battlefield prowess and Putin hailed Russian troops preventing in Ukraine as “heroes” at this 12 months’s occasion.
Source: www.dailysabah.com