Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico not only caused a stir and criticism at home with a surprise visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tensions are also rising between Kiev and Bratislava.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assumed that Fico had personal motives for the trip and that he was dependent on Moscow. Zelenskyj wrote on platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday: “Why is this head of state so dependent on Moscow? What is he paid and what does he pay with?”
Fico himself had described his visit to Russia as a response to Zelensky’s refusal to continue sending Russian gas to Slovakia.
Controversial gas transit through Ukraine
Despite Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Slovakia continues to receive Russian gas through pipelines. Ukraine recently declared that it will no longer renew the transit contract for the transport of Russian gas to neighboring Slovakia, which expires at the end of this year.
Zelensky wrote that Fico himself benefits from the Russian gas discount, but not his country. “Such reductions are not in vain – payments to Russia are made through (giving up) sovereignty or through opaque arrangements.” He suggested that Fico was a security problem for Slovakia and Europe.
Protests in Bratislava
But there is also criticism in Slovakia itself: several hundred people gathered for a protest in front of the government office in Bratislava. This was called for by the “Mier Ukrajine” (Peace of Ukraine) initiative, which in the past had mainly focused on arms deliveries to Kiev. The demonstrators waved the flags of Slovakia, Ukraine and the EU.
“We reject Prime Minister Fico of Slovakia’s unsavory offer to Putin as a Christmas gift!” said the protest call on Facebook. The small liberal opposition party ‘Freedom and Solidarity’ was also considering a motion of no confidence in parliament against the head of government.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
