Vladimir Putin expressed Russia’s willingness to consider a Slovakian initiative to host peace negotiations with Ukraine aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, noting that “Slovakia maintains a neutral stance.”
During a meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Kremlin on December 22, Putin emphasized Russia’s commitment to concluding the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine.
Russia’s Position on Slovakian Peace Talks
In a televised address on Thursday, Putin relayed that Fico had indicated Slovakia’s readiness to serve as a venue for negotiations during his visit.
Putin remarked, “We are not opposed to this idea, if it comes to fruition. Why not? Given Slovakia’s neutral position.”
Fico’s unannounced visit to Russia, as one of the few European leaders still engaging with the Kremlin, occurred despite Western efforts to isolate Putin and present a unified front in support of Ukraine.
As a member of both the EU and NATO, Slovakia has ceased military assistance to Ukraine since autumn 2023 under Fico’s administration and has consistently advocated for peace negotiations.
Additionally, Fico mentioned that during his extensive discussion with Putin, they addressed topics related to “the prospects for an early peaceful resolution to the war” in Ukraine, although he did not explicitly propose to host or facilitate the talks at that time.
Fico’s unexpected visit to Moscow, which he asserted he had communicated to senior EU officials, followed last week’s European Union summit in Brussels. During that summit, he attempted, without success, to persuade Kyiv to reconsider its decision not to extend a gas delivery contract that utilizes pipelines within Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in attendance at the summit.
Ukraine has announced that it will not renew a contract set to expire at the end of this year, which permits the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe, and no viable alternatives have been identified thus far.
In response to the meeting between Fico and Putin, Zelenskyy expressed concern, labeling Fico’s pro-Russian energy policy as a significant security threat to both Slovakia and Europe. Fico characterized his discussions with Putin as a reaction to Zelenskyy’s steadfast position, which he claimed jeopardized Slovakia’s energy security, deeming it “unacceptable.”
The Slovak Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow faced criticism from EU and Ukrainian officials, with Zelenskyy questioning Fico’s reliance on Moscow. He posed pointed inquiries regarding the nature of Fico’s dependency, asking, “What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?”
Zelenskyy further suggested that Fico’s intentions may not align with the interests of Slovakia. “We are fighting for our lives, while Fico is fighting for money, which is unlikely to benefit Slovakia. Shadow agreements with Putin either compromise state interests or serve personal gain,” the Ukrainian President asserted.
During a press conference, Putin made conflicting remarks regarding the potential resolution of the Ukraine conflict by 2025, stating that Russia’s objective is “to end the conflict,” while simultaneously expressing hopes for success on the battlefield.
Putin’s comments regarding possible peace negotiations coincided with the imminent inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.
Trump has committed to extricating the United States from Russia’s conflict and aims to facilitate a swift peace agreement. Additionally, he indicated on December 22 that Putin is eager to arrange a meeting with him at the earliest opportunity.
