Slovak PM Fico Meets Putin in China: EU Criticism & Energy Cooperation

Fico's Critique of EU Policy

• 🐸 Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed disappointment with the European Union's ability to respond to global movements, likening the EU to a "frog at the bottom of a well" with a limited perspective.
• 💡 Fico stated his diametrically different positions from some EU member states on topics related to the Ukrainian conflict.

Strengthening Russia-Slovakia Relations

• 🤝 Fico proposed a meeting of the joint commission to standardize bilateral relations and return to deeper, stronger, and more successful economic cooperation with Russia.
• 🛂 Slovakia has started issuing visas for Russian citizens, indicating a desire to continue normalizing relations despite being within Schengen.

Energy Cooperation and Infrastructure

• ⛽ Fico thanked Russia for safe and regular gas deliveries through Turkstream, noting the volume is gradually increasing.
• ⚠️ He firmly stated that Slovakia will harshly respond to any attacks on critical infrastructure, an issue he plans to raise with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
• 🚫 Fico declared Slovakia will never support the "repower EU" decision to cease transporting Russian gas and oil by January 1st, 2028, and will vote against it in the EU.
• ⚛️ Slovakia plans to build a new state-managed nuclear reactor with 1,100 MW capacity and is communicating with US Westinghouse, hoping for Russian-US cooperation on the project.

Stance on Ukraine's EU and NATO Future

• 🇪🇺 Fico affirmed Ukraine's right to a European perspective but emphasized that it must meet all conditions for joining the EU, asserting that political criteria cannot override readiness.
• 🛡️ He expressed satisfaction that his words about Ukraine not being able to join NATO have come true, believing this topic is definitively settled.

Diplomatic Engagement and Information Exchange

• 💬 Fico used the meeting to seek basic information from President Putin regarding his recent summit with the US president, despite facing criticism for the Beijing meeting.
• 📈 He expressed pleasure in seeing steps taken towards developing relations between Slovakia and Russia.