The Russian president’s feedback comply with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial go to to Moscow, seen as a problem to EU unity towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated he’s prepared to just accept Slovakia’s provide as a location for peace negotiations with Ukraine.
Putin’s feedback comply with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s shock and controversial go to to Moscow on Sunday, which is extensively seen as a blow to the EU bloc’s unity towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
”He spoke initially a couple of peaceable resolution in Ukraine. He was pushing it. I do not know what accusations Europe or anybody else would possibly make towards him. But he talked about this and targeted his consideration on this,” the Russian chief stated throughout a briefing in St. Petersburg on Thursday.
Putin added that Fico provided to host peace talks with Ukraine in Slovakia, an possibility Russia will contemplate, as Slovakia’s place on preventing in Ukraine is “acceptable” to Moscow.
“Slovakia takes a impartial place from our perspective; this place is impartial and for us it’s an appropriate possibility,” Putin stated.
Slovakia, one of many international locations that’s closely depending on Russian fuel, is a member of each NATO and the European Union.
After Ukraine confirmed that it’ll not lengthen the Russian fuel transit contract expiring on the finish of the 12 months, Slovakia expressed concern about the potential for shedding fuel provides.
Fico stated he visited Moscow due to Kiev’s reluctance to increase fuel deliveries by Ukraine after discussing it with Volodymr Zelenskyy at a summit in Brussels final week, a risk the Ukrainian head of state resolutely rejected.
The Slovak Prime Minister is supported by coalition companions of the Slovak National Party. According to Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba, negotiations with Vladimir Putin are a “resolution to Slovakia’s elementary downside of getting availability of low cost fuel provides”.
Fico faces backlash over go to to Moscow
On Monday, round 3,000 individuals, carrying numerous placards and flags of Ukraine, NATO and the EU, gathered in Bratislava’s Freedom Square in entrance of the federal government workplace, shouting “Traitor” and “Shame” in protest for Fico’s go to to Moscow.
The “Enough with Russia” protest was organized by the civil affiliation Mier Ukraine. Several opposition events within the nation additionally denounced the go to, calling it a betrayal of allies.
“Prime Minister Fico, in his journey to Moscow, served Vladimir Putin as a propaganda instrument and used the entire of Slovakia, which thus grew to become a Russian propaganda instrument,” stated Michal Šimecka, deputy of the National Assembly and chief of the opposition coalition motion «Slovensko Progressive».
“All it achieved was a global embarrassment for our nation and a lower in our credibility within the eyes of our key companions,” Šimecka stated at a information convention Monday.
The Kremlin stated one of many situations for resuming fuel shipments to Europe by Ukraine, which expires this 12 months, can be Kiev’s withdrawal from the arbitration dispute with Russian state fuel firm Gazprom.
Video editor • Jerry Fisayo-Bambi
