Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico meets Putin in rare Moscow visit

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday, marking a rare visit by an EU leader since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The discussions focused on key issues, including gas supplies and the ongoing international situation, as Fico's pro-Russian stance continues to set him apart from much of the European Union.

December 23, 2024 – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in a rare visit to Moscow, marking one of the few visits by a European Union leader since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Fico arrived for a "working visit" and engaged in direct talks with Putin at the Kremlin, according to Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson. The discussions were said to focus on the international situation, as well as Russian natural gas supplies, which remain a key point of interest for Europe.

Fico's visit is particularly significant given the tense political climate in Europe. Since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, visits and communication between European leaders and the Russian president have been sparse. The most recent high-profile visit was by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in July, which drew condemnation from Kyiv and European officials.

Prime Minister Fico’s views on Russia’s war in Ukraine differ sharply from most European leaders. After his left-wing Smer (Direction) party won the Slovak parliamentary elections last year, Fico returned to power on a platform that included pro-Russian and anti-American rhetoric. Since then, he has halted his country's military support for Ukraine, criticized EU sanctions against Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine’s NATO membership.

His stance has put him at odds with many EU leaders, as well as the broader international community. In a televised interview with Russian state TV in October, Fico claimed that Western support for Ukraine had "prolonged the war," and argued that sanctions against Russia were ineffective. He also expressed his willingness to negotiate directly with President Putin.

Looking ahead, Fico has pledged to attend Russia's military parade in May 2025, which will mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. These celebrations have become an annual showcase for Russia's military might, and Putin has used them to emphasize the strength of Russian forces, particularly in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.