Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow, sparking tension within the European Union. This is only the third time a Western leader has met Russian President Vladimir Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Fico, known for his criticism of the EU’s support for Kyiv in the war, discussed supplies of Russian gas with Putin. A deal to transit energy through Ukraine to Slovakia is set to expire at the end of this year, and Ukraine has signaled its intention not to renew it.
The visit marks a departure from the EU’s common security policy, which requires all member states to abide by sanctions against Russia. Only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer have broken ranks with their EU counterparts to travel to Moscow.
Fico said he was informed about his trip and its purpose by top EU officials on Friday. He met with Putin to discuss the possibility of an early, peaceful end to the war and mutual relations between Russia and Slovakia.
The visit has been met with criticism from opposition parties in Slovakia and neighboring countries like the Czech Republic. The Czech Foreign Minister said his country had secured energy independence from Russia, while a Slovak MP defended Fico’s trip, saying he was trying to secure cheap gas imports for Slovakia.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0rn85v5kjo