Slovak Prime Minister to Balance Meetings with Putin and Zelensky Amidst Shifting Regional Dynamics
Beijing/Bratislava – September 3, 2023 – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is embarking on a diplomatic mission that will see him meet with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, signaling an attempt to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape.
fico is currently in Beijing, participating in a parade commemorating the end of the war in Asia. He is expected to sit alongside Chinese leadership during the event, while Putin attends the Shanghai Cooperation Association Summit in Tianjin. A meeting between Fico and Putin is “planned,” according to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, though details regarding the agenda and exact date remain undisclosed.Following his engagements in Beijing, Fico stated he intends to travel to eastern Slovakia for a bilateral meeting with President Zelensky on Friday. However, he provided no further details regarding the planned discussion.
This diplomatic balancing act comes as relations between Ukraine and Slovakia have experienced increasing tension. Fico has publicly expressed reservations regarding continued military assistance to Ukraine, as well as its aspirations for EU and NATO membership. The situation was further intricate by Ukraine’s recent decision to halt russian gas transit to Europe, a move impacting both Slovakia and Hungary.
Despite these tensions, Fico remains one of a limited number of European leaders maintaining regular contact with Putin since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This continued dialogue, alongside the planned meeting with Zelensky, underscores Fico’s effort to engage with all key stakeholders in the region.
