Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is set to become the only EU leader to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as claimed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The visit, reportedly scheduled for 23 December, comes amid escalating tensions over Ukraine’s refusal to extend Russian gas transit, threatening Slovakia’s energy security. Fico, who openly criticised Ukraine’s decision, seeks cheap Russian gas but risks isolating Slovakia within the EU. Meanwhile, Fico alleges that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy privately offered Slovakia €500 million in exchange for NATO support—a claim unverified by Kyiv.
Fico to Meet Putin in Moscow on Monday, Claims Serbian President Vučić
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is reportedly set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, 23 December, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The claim was made during an interview on Serbia’s Happy TV and subsequently reported by TASS and other Serbian media outlets.
“As far as I know from unofficial sources – and when I say unofficial, it means the information is fairly accurate – Robert Fico will travel to meet Putin as the leader of an EU country. I don’t need to tell you what reaction this will provoke among other EU leaders,” Vučić stated during the interview.
The visit is expected to follow the decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to extend the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, a move Fico has previously warned could trigger a crisis for Slovakia. TASS reports that Slovakia is keen to secure affordable Russian gas and ensure its transit to other EU nations. The current gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine is set to expire on 1 January, with no plans for renewal, according to both Ukrainian and Russian sources.
Fico also claimed that Zelenskyy had offered Slovakia €500 million in exchange for supporting Ukraine’s NATO membership bid. The Slovak PM disclosed this during a video message, noting that the offer was made during a closed-door meeting in Brussels. However, Kyiv has not commented on the alleged offer.
In response, Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Šimečka criticised Fico, suggesting that addressing gas transit should involve negotiations in Kyiv, not Moscow. He questioned Fico’s reluctance to engage directly with Ukraine, accusing him of playing into Russian propaganda.
As of now, Fico has not addressed the Moscow visit claims, instead sharing a video from Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit.
Source: Aktuality.sk
