Slovak Leader Visits Putin, Breaking With E.U.’s Policy of Isolation

Russia-Ukraine War

Supported by

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit to Moscow on Sunday, ostensibly to discuss herbal fuel and Ukraine, dealt a blow to European unity in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By Andrew Higgins

Europe’s efforts to form a united front against Russia in the Ukraine war suffered another blow with the wonderful stop in Moscow of Robert Fico, leader of Slovakia, for talks with President Vladimir V. Putin on fuel-based materials. herbs and the confrontation in Ukraine. Training

Following in the footsteps of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who visited Moscow in July, Fico broke with Putin’s policy of isolating the European Union by meeting the Russian president on Sunday night in the Russian capital.

At a news conference in Moscow on Monday, Putin’s foreign adviser Yuri Ushakov praised Fico for his independence.

“Like Orban, Robert Fico has proven to be an independent and thoughtful person who puts the interests of his country first,” Ushakov said.

The two leaders, he added, agreed on “the importance and even the need to re-establish the historically mutual ties between the two countries. “

Fico, a staple of Slovak politics for decades who started on the left and then gradually drifted toward the populist right, returned to the force for a third term as prime minister after winning a narrow victory in the 2023 election. temporarily the centrist government of the past. strong for Ukraine and its hostility towards Russia.

We are recovering the content of the article.

Allow JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we determine access. If you’re in Reader mode, exit and log into your Times account or subscribe to the full Times.

Thank you for your patience while we determine access.

Are you already subscribed? Access.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply