Slovak PM plans Moscow visit, eyes EU path for Ukraine
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that in May 2025, he will partake in the 80th-anniversary celebrations of the end of World War II, which are to be held in Moscow. During a conversation on Saturday, he emphasized that his trip will not be associated with the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.
"Who will stop me from going to a peace rally?" the Prime Minister asked on Slovak television. He stressed that participating in these ceremonies aims to honour memory, not address current political events.
Visit in connection with the Carpathian-Dukla Operation
Fico also declared his intent to attend the ceremonies commemorating the 1944 Carpathian-Dukla Operation, one of the major operations on the Eastern Front. The Prime Minister noted that his presence would be a testament to the memory that "freedom came from the East."
During a conversation on Slovak television, the Prime Minister also spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He mentioned discussions with Ukrainian politicians and expressed his bewilderment regarding why "they are still fighting with the Russians."
In his view, the conflict situation remains unchanged. "We are where we were two years ago. The Russians have made significant territorial gains. We have hundreds of thousands of dead soldiers. And there is no military solution in sight," Fico said.
The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized that every war must eventually end at the negotiating table. In his opinion, Slovakia should strive to rebuild normal relations with Russia after the conflict ends. "I will do everything to ensure that after the war, Slovakia has standard relations with Russia," he promised.
He also added that during a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, which will be held next Monday, he will emphasize to his Ukrainian partners the importance of maintaining oil and gas transit through Ukrainian territory.
Support for Ukraine's accession to the EU
Robert Fico expressed support for Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union, although he stressed that Slovakia expects Ukrainians to take a "normal and reasonable" approach to managing key transit infrastructure.
Summarizing the situation in Ukraine, Fico also commented on the potential impact of the United States presidential elections on the future of the conflict. "Ukraine would benefit from Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential elections, as it would mean a greater chance of ending the war with Russia," Fico assessed.
