Slovak PM holds meeting with Putin in Moscow

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has held a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Source: European Pravda, citing Slovak outlet Aktuality.sk and Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti

Details: During the meeting in the Kremlin, Fico said it was a great honour for him to be in Moscow during the Victory Day celebrations. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.]

Fico said that, on behalf of the government of Slovakia and the Slovak delegation present there, he wished to congratulate Putin on what he called the greatest national holiday.

RIA Novosti quoted Fico as supposedly saying that a new Iron Curtain was emerging in Europe, but that Russia and Slovakia could take steps towards normalising relations.

During the meeting, Putin said he was aware of the difficulties surrounding Fico's trip to Moscow after the Baltic states refused to allow his aircraft to pass through their airspace, adding that it was important that he had still managed to come.

Putin also stated that Russia was ready to ensure Slovakia's energy needs.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of Rosatom were also present at the meeting.

Fico was the only European leader to travel to Moscow for the 9 May events. As far as is known, he did not attend the parade on Red Square.

Background: Last year, Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić were the only European heads of state or government to attend Putin's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. This year, Vučić did not travel to Russia and instead sent a congratulatory letter.

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