Fico calls weakening of Russia 'unrealistic goal,' proposes holding peace talks in Slovakia
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico called the prospect of weakening Russia unrealistic, and the decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop the transit of Russian gas causing billions of dollars in damage to the European Union and Slovakia in particular.
"By stopping gas transit, President Zelenskyy will cause billions of dollars in damage to the EU, including the Slovak Republic, and will further reduce the EU's competitiveness. It seems that the big guys in the EU do not object. The main thing is that in the name of the unrealistic goal of weakening Russia, the Slavs will continue to kill each other," Fico said on Facebook on Friday following his trip to Russia and meeting with Vladimir Putin.
He also proposed his country as a venue for peace talks. "If someone wants to organize peace talks in the Slovak Republic, we will be ready and hospitable," Fico said.
As reported earlier, Putin announced Fico's proposal to hold talks on a peaceful settlement of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the territory of the Slovak state. According to him, "Slovakia takes such a neutral position."
Zelenskyy responded critically to Fico's trip to Moscow and his meeting with Putin. "We are fighting for life, Fico is fighting for money, and it is unlikely that it will be for money for Slovakia. Shadow agreements with Putin are either trading in state interests or working for one's own pocket," he said.
As reported, Zelenskyy once again stated on December 19 on the sidelines of the EU Summit that Ukraine will not be involved in continuing the transit of Russian gas. He noted that in a conversation with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, he said if it is not Russian gas, but gas from another country, and there is no payment to Russia until the end of the war, Ukraine is ready to consider this option.
In response, Fico said that stopping gas transit through Ukraine could result in a serious conflict, and recalled that the Ukrainian energy system receives significant imports through Slovakia. After this, Fico visited Moscow on December 22 to meet with Putin.
The European Commission did not comment on Fico's visit to Moscow, but stated that the EU is ready to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.