Slovakian opposition dismayed as leader meets with Putin in Moscow

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a previously unannounced visit to the Kremlin for talks on Sunday, Russian state media reported, sparking dismay among opposition lawmakers in Bratislava.

This was the first visit by an official representative from Slovakia to Russia since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trips to Moscow by leaders of any EU country have become increasingly rare.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Fico may have wanted to talk to Putin about natural gas supplies. Little was offered about the subject of the talks.

According to a statement made by the Slovak government in November, Fico, who is often criticized by his opponents for being “pro-Russian”, was appointed to World War II on May 9. He plans to travel to Moscow in May 2025, accepting an invitation to attend ceremonies commemorating the centenary of the World War II.

The Slovak leader frequently criticized the European Union and NATO’s Ukraine policy. Slovakia is a member of both organizations.

Slovak opposition politicians responded angrily to Fico’s trip. Michal Simecka, leader of the largest opposition party, said in a statement to the TASR news agency, “The Prime Minister should discuss gas transit to Slovakia in Kiev.”

The leader of the liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS) said Fico was “only playing a dishonest game with his voters” by traveling to see Putin. “And by doing so, he is betraying his own country and taking us step by step away from Europe.”

Even stronger words came from Branislav Gröhling, leader of the smaller liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS).

“Robert Fico is a disgrace to Slovakia. He acts like an ordinary collaborator, not like the head of government of a sovereign country.” Gröhling said Fico did not speak on behalf of the entire Slovak nation.

Fico spent the previous days trying in vain to prevent the end of the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia announced by Ukraine.

Fico said Slovakia faced a potentially deep crisis because it was completely dependent on Russian gas and had few alternatives.

For this reason, Slovakia was given permission by the EU to continue purchasing Russian gas. However, this EU approval has no value for Bratislava because neighboring Ukraine will no longer allow the passage of Russian gas from the beginning of this year.

Both politicians confirmed that this led to a difficult exchange between Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the last summit.

Zelensky said that Slovakia is only experiencing economic problems, but his country is losing human lives every day.

Slovakia has a border with Ukraine. And Slovakia, unlike Hungary, has so far supported all EU aid packages to Ukraine and all sanctions on Russia.

But left-populist Fico often openly criticizes Western policy towards Ukraine. He has repeatedly called on the EU to broker a peace deal rather than “prolong the killing and destruction in Ukraine” by providing weapons.

Given its population size, Slovakia was one of Ukraine’s staunchest military supporters when the Kremlin launched its invasion.

Upon his return to power in October 2023, Fico ended direct deliveries of weapons from army stocks. However, the Slovak arms industry continues to produce military products for Ukraine on a commercial basis.