Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico meets with Putin in Moscow to discuss Russian gas supplies

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico met one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

In a Facebook post, Fico described the meeting as a direct response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s opposition to Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia. Fico added that Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue supplying gas to Europe, including Slovakia, though he warned that this might become “practically impossible” after January 1, 2025, due to Kyiv’s stance.

Fico also criticized Zelensky’s support for sanctions on Russia’s nuclear program, arguing that such measures would harm Slovakia financially and jeopardize electricity production at its nuclear power plants.

During the meeting, Fico and Putin also reportedly “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine,” the prospects for ending the war, and the state of relations between Slovakia and Russia.

The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly announced plans to halt the transit of Russian gas and oil to Europe starting January 1, 2025, citing the ongoing war. However, Kyiv has expressed a willingness to facilitate gas transit from other countries, provided it is not of Russian origin.

At a December 20 press conference, Fico warned of a looming “gas crisis” for Slovakia, blaming Zelensky for the situation. According to Fico, Zelensky ruled out any gas transit through Ukraine, suspecting it could involve Russian supplies.