In the social media “Facebook” after the meeting in Moscow, Fico confirmed that he had informed the leaders of the European Union (EU) about the meeting with Putin on Friday.
He said the talks in Moscow were a reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement in Brussels on Thursday that he was against any gas transit to Slovakia through Ukraine. Fico also said Zelenskiy supports sanctions against Russia’s nuclear program, which he says are unacceptable and against the interests of his country, which depends on nuclear energy.
Fico announced that Putin confirmed to him that Russia is still ready to supply gas to Western countries even after January 1, 2025. He said the two also discussed the military situation in Ukraine, the possibility of a peaceful solution to the war and bilateral relations between the two countries, which Fico said they would try to “standardize.”
Russian natural gas is still supplied through Ukraine to some European countries, including Slovakia, under a five-year contract signed before the war that expires at the end of this year. At a summit in Brussels on Thursday, Ukraine’s president told EU leaders that Kyiv had no plans to renew the agreement, but Fico insisted that it would harm his country’s interests.
On December 31, the contract signed by Ukraine’s “Naftogaz” and Russia’s “Gazprom” on the transit of Russian gas through Europe expires. Zelensky has said that Ukraine is ready to provide transit to European countries only for gas that is not of Russian origin.
Slovakia last month signed a short-term trial deal to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan as it prepares for a possible suspension of Russian supplies through Ukraine. Earlier this year, it struck a deal to import US liquefied natural gas via a pipeline from Poland.
The country can also receive gas through the networks of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, which, among other things, allow gas to be imported from Germany and other potential suppliers.
Since Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine, visits by European leaders and phone conversations with Putin have been rare. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Russia in July, and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nähammer met the Russian leader just weeks after the full-scale invasion began. Both trips drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.
Orbán, who is considered by many to be the person who might have the closest relationship with Putin of the EU leaders. has regularly blocked, impeded or weakened EU efforts to help Kiev and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. Orbán has long advocated an end to hostilities in Ukraine, but has not outlined what that might mean for the country’s territorial integrity or future security.
In October, Fico gave an interview to Russia’s state propaganda television channel Rossiya-1, in which he condemned the West for “prolonging the war” by supporting Ukraine. Fico announced that the sanctions against Russia are not effective.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Fico arrived in Russia on a working visit and had a bilateral meeting with Putin on Sunday evening. Peskov said that the talks are planned on the international situation and Russian natural gas supplies.
Fico’s visit was condemned by Slovakia’s major opposition parties.
After Fico became prime minister last year, Slovakia refused to continue military aid to Ukraine.
Since Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine, Fico is one of the few European leaders who has maintained friendly relations with the Kremlin.
In November, Fico announced that he had accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Moscow on May 9 to participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of the end of World War II.