Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s latest address aligns closely with Russian narratives, framing Ukraine as the aggressor and blaming President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing peace talks that favour Moscow. Fico’s offer to host negotiations – directly coordinated with Vladimir Putin – bypasses NATO and EU channels, raising concerns about Slovakia’s position within the alliance. His claim that halting Russian gas transit will cost the EU €120 billion contradicts European Commission assessments, which highlight the EU’s reduced reliance on Russian energy and diversified supply routes. By threatening to cut off electricity exports to Ukraine, Fico signals a readiness to defend Russian energy interests over European unity, positioning Slovakia as a potential disruptor within NATO at a time when cohesion is critical to countering Russian aggression.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s recent address to the nation outlined his position on the war in Ukraine and Slovakia’s role in international diplomacy. In his video, Fico opened with holiday greetings but quickly pivoted to discussing his commitment to pushing a “peace agenda” aimed at resolving the conflict. He stated his intention to continue advocating for peace at upcoming visits to Turkey, Davos, and the Vatican. While promoting peace may appear neutral, Fico’s framing mirrors Russian diplomatic narratives, which often emphasise ceasefires and negotiations as a means to freeze conflicts on terms favourable to Moscow. This narrative, absent of any acknowledgment of Russia’s responsibility for initiating the war, risks undermining the collective NATO and EU stance, which prioritises support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Fico distanced himself from what he described as Western politicians who openly support the continuation of the war, expressing disdain for geopolitical efforts to weaken Russia. “I will never agree that, in the name of any geopolitical interests and efforts to weaken and partition Russia, Slavs should kill each other,” he stated. By framing Western military assistance to Ukraine as an attempt to divide Slavic nations and weaken Russia, Fico echoes Russian disinformation narratives designed to fracture regional solidarity. This rhetoric downplays Russia’s aggression, shifting blame onto NATO and the EU while fostering divisions between Slovakia and its Western allies.
He framed the conflict in Ukraine as a Slavic tragedy, lamenting the loss of life and attributing the ongoing fighting to the stubbornness of Ukrainian leadership. In particular, he criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to agree to even a temporary ceasefire, describing this position as reckless and harmful to Ukraine’s long-term interests. “It is incomprehensible to me that the Ukrainian president refuses even a ceasefire,” Fico said. This portrayal aligns with Russian interests by painting Ukraine’s resistance as irrational and self-destructive, ignoring the reality that ceasefires often provide Moscow with time to regroup and fortify occupied territories. By characterising Ukraine’s defensive posture as futile, Fico indirectly bolsters arguments against continued Western support for Kyiv, contributing to narratives that weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position.
Fico offered Slovakia as a venue for potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. He portrayed this proposal as a means of reinforcing Slovakia’s sovereignty and international standing, revealing that he had personally discussed the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I spoke on this topic with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and I welcome his positive reaction,” Fico stated. While advocating for peace talks might appear constructive, directly involving Putin and bypassing broader EU and NATO frameworks risks legitimising Russia’s claims. This move reflects a strategy often employed by Russia to divide Europe by engaging smaller states in bilateral negotiations, weakening collective EU policy efforts.
Throughout his address, Fico stated that Slovakia’s foreign policy remains fully independent, operating within the bounds of its EU and NATO obligations. However, he criticised perceived interference from foreign actors, pointing to Western media, domestic liberal opposition, and the Czech political establishment as attempting to undermine Slovakia’s sovereignty. “And no one will change this. Not the loudmouths from Bratislava cafés, not the aggressive liberal media, not the Czech political scene,” he remarked. This rhetoric mirrors authoritarian narratives that frame domestic opposition and foreign scrutiny as external threats, fostering isolationism and mistrust toward allies. By portraying Slovakia’s NATO and EU partners as meddlers, Fico sows distrust that can be exploited by Russia to undermine Western unity.
Fico then addressed what he described as a contentious exchange with President Zelensky during a recent EU summit. The Slovak Prime Minister recounted how Zelensky allegedly criticised him during a closed-door meeting, later escalating the confrontation by publicly attacking him at a press conference. Fico said he was surprised by Zelensky’s behaviour, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader’s attitude was driven by Western pressure and political opportunism. “But I am not your subordinate servant who cannot express his own opinion,” he asserted. By framing Zelensky as arrogant and dismissing his concerns, Fico undermines NATO’s messaging that Ukraine’s leadership is defending not just national sovereignty but the broader stability of Europe. This further alienates Slovakia from collective efforts to counter Russian aggression, reinforcing narratives that pit smaller EU states against Ukraine.
The most contentious part of Fico’s speech centred on Ukraine’s plan to halt the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia and other EU countries starting in 2025. Fico thanked Slovak officials for securing domestic gas supplies for the coming year but warned that Zelensky’s decision to block gas transit would have significant economic consequences. “Slovakia will lose approximately half a billion in transit fees,” he said, estimating that the EU would face a €120 billion increase in energy costs over the following two years. Framing the gas halt as an economic attack by Ukraine, rather than a strategic effort to sever Europe’s dependency on Russian energy, plays into Russian objectives by fostering resentment toward Kyiv. Fico’s focus on economic losses ignores the broader security rationale behind ending reliance on Russian energy, a key priority for NATO and EU leaders.
The Prime Minister warned that Slovakia could retaliate if Ukraine proceeded with the gas transit halt. He floated the possibility of cutting off electricity supplies to Ukraine, presenting this as a countermeasure to protect Slovak interests. “If necessary, we will stop the supply of electricity that Ukraine urgently needs,” Fico warned. Such retaliatory rhetoric risks damaging Slovakia’s standing within NATO and the EU, reinforcing Russian objectives to weaken European support for Ukraine by fostering divisions among member states.
Debunking Prime Minister Fico’s Energy Cost Claims
Fico’s claim that the halt in Russian gas transit will cost the EU €120 billion by 2026 contrasts with assessments from international bodies. The European Commission projects the impact will be minimal due to diversified energy sources. The EU reduced its reliance on Russian gas from 45% in 2021 to approximately 15% by late 2023, reflecting investments in LNG and renewables. The European Commission’s analysis indicates limited impacts on energy supply if Russian transit ends in 2025.
Ukraine’s decision to halt transit aligns with NATO’s strategic goal of reducing Russian leverage. Fico’s portrayal of Ukraine’s actions as purely political overlooks this broader security context. Additionally, Fico’s claim that Zelensky offered Slovakia €500 million from frozen Russian assets contradicts EU legal frameworks, which prevent unilateral redistribution of such assets.
Zelensky Accuses Fico of Advancing Putin’s Energy War Against Ukraine
In response to Fico’s threats to cut electricity exports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X, sharply criticising the Slovak Prime Minister’s alignment with Moscow. Zelensky accused Fico of “opening a second energy front against Ukraine on behalf of Putin,” interpreting Slovakia’s potential electricity cutoff as part of Russia’s broader effort to cripple Ukraine’s infrastructure during winter, when Russian missile and drone strikes are already targeting Ukraine’s power grid.
Zelensky underscored that Ukraine’s need for imported electricity stems directly from Russian aggression – specifically, the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the systematic destruction of thermal and hydroelectric facilities by Russian forces. He highlighted that Ukraine’s ability to prevent blackouts was achieved through cooperation with the EU, the US, the UK, Norway, Japan, and other allies. Cutting off this vital electricity supply, Zelensky warned, would not only harm Ukraine but also damage Slovakia’s economic interests, costing the country at least $200 million annually in electricity exports.
The Ukrainian president framed Fico’s stance as short-sighted, warning that severing energy ties with Ukraine could further isolate Slovakia from the European energy market. “Slovakia is part of the unified European energy market,” Zelensky stated, urging Fico to respect EU-wide rules rather than follow directives “from Moscow.”
