The Slovak Prime Minister, to the right of Putin: « It was an honor »

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico displayed his proximity on Friday night with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, despite criticisms from the European Union who insisted on not traveling to Moscow.

Fico, known for his pro-Russian positions, told his host that he had no ‘problem’ to accept the Kremlin’s invitation to attend the Russian capital at the 80-year marking ceremonies since the defeat of Nazi Germany.

« On the contrary, it was an honor to receive this invitation that I accepted with joy, » he said during a meeting with little transmitted on Russian state television.

The head of the diplomacy of the European Union, Kaja Kallas, asked European leaders not to participate in the May 9 commemorations in Moscow and he was the only leader in the EU.

Fico had to change his program after the Baltic states forbade his plane to fly over their territory on the way to the Russian capital. He called this prohibition a ‘childish and funny game’.

The Slovak Prime Minister also said that Bratislava will reject the Plan of Brussels through the veto to give up Russian oil if it would be adopted unanimously.

Putin assured Fico that he will do everything in his power to restore the links with Slovakia which, in his opinion, were ‘frozen’ under the pressure of the West. « I have always maintained friendly relationships with Slovakia, » he said.

Like the neighbor and his Hungarian ally Viktor Orban, Robert Fico has repeatedly criticized the support of the European Union granted to Ukraine from the beginning of the Russian invasion, as well as the policy of Brussels to isolate Russia.

The Slovak leader has already encountered Putin in December 2024 to discuss gas supply.