Slovakian PM Fico offered to host Moscow-Kiev peace talks, Putin claims – POLITICO

The unannounced pre-Christmas meeting between Fico and Putin was reported at the time as an attempt by the Slovak leader to find a way around Kyiv’s refusal to extend Russian gas supplies to Bratislava after an existing contract expires at the end of 2024.

At the time, nothing was mentioned about mediating peace negotiations, although Fico later stated in a post on social media that “during a long conversation with V. Putin, we exchanged opinions on the military situation in Ukraine (and) on the possibilities of bringing the war to a peaceful end.”

Slovak opposition leader Michal Šimečka told local media that if Fico wants peace between Russia and Ukraine, he must get Putin to end the war: “If Russia’s military stops its attacks, they (Fico and Putin) are welcome to talk peace on Fico’s porch if they want.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, listed on X after the meeting between Fico and Putin, that the two “did not issue joint statements or answer media questions,” claiming it was because “they are afraid of public reaction.”

“Why is this leader (Fico) so dependent on Moscow?” asked Zelenskyy. “What is he being paid and what is he paying with?”