The Slovakian leader is believed to want to secure access to Russian energy (Image: Getty)
has accused of helping finance his war in .
The Slovak leader met with the Russian president in Moscow on Sunday as part of his country’s bid to ensure their access to supplied energy, of which Slovakia is one of the biggest importers in the EU.
On the whole, the EU has been largely united in its response in support of
has long been the main source of frustration for EU countries due to his close relationship with the Russian leader but since his election in 2023, Fico has been another source of fissure within the bloc’s unity with .
A major deal which allows Slovakia to import Russian fossil fuels through is set to end next year and the meeting between Fico and Putin is seen as an attempt to seek some form of continuation of access to the resource.
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The meeting has enraged EU leaders who see it as undermining the united response of the bloc (Image: Getty)
Following the meeting, wrote: “Fico’s key goal is to deal with , and this is what benefits him. This is indeed a big security issue — both for Slovakia and the entire Europe. Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?
“Moscow provides significant discounts to Fico, but Slovakia pays for them. Such discounts are not free—payments to are made through sovereignty or murky schemes.”
went on to accuse the Slovakian leader of failing to participate in measures to wean European states off of Russian energy.
He added: “Leaders observed that Mr. Fico does not want to participate in the common European work on energy independence or seek replacement for Russian gas, but rather wants to assist in pushing American gas and energy resources of other partners away from Europe, implying that he wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war and weaken Europe.”
Following the meeting, Fico and Putin both expressed a desire to continue the trading relationship but such an agreement will rely on the government in Kyiv giving it the go-ahead.
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The meeting sparked Anti-Fico protests in Bratislava (Image: Getty)
Today, hundreds of people gathered outside Slovakia’s government office in Bratislava to protest the trip to Moscow.
European leaders have shared the anger of the Bratislava protesters with some calling the move “a betrayal.”
Lithuania president Gitanas Nausėda said: “How cheap is your love? There are those who come to with love and feel gassed to meet a war criminal.
“This is not Lithuania’s way. We choose energy independence and real market prices – with no political strings attached!
Slovakia’s opposition leader Michal Šimečka said in an interview with Brussels Playbook on Sunday night that he considers the visit “to be undermining Slovak interests and a betrayal of our partners.”
He said: “Instead of negotiating with and the European Commission, he’s created a political conflict, which is the worst of all possible outcomes.