Moscow, December 27, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war that escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Putin hosted Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico for unannounced talks on Sunday. Fico revealed that his visit was driven by Ukraine’s unwillingness to extend Russian gas deliveries to Slovakia through Ukrainian pipelines after the current contract expires at the end of this year.
Speaking on Russian television, Putin remarked that Fico had conveyed Slovakia’s willingness to serve as a neutral platform for negotiations. “We are not opposed, if it comes to that,” Putin said. “Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position.”
Ukraine’s government has yet to respond to the proposal.
Fico’s unexpected visit to Moscow follows his unsuccessful attempt during the recent European Union summit—attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—to persuade Kyiv to reconsider its stance on the gas delivery contract.
Describing his Moscow visit as a “response” to Zelenskyy’s firm stance, Fico emphasized the importance of safeguarding Slovakia’s energy supply. In his “long conversation” with Putin, Fico discussed various issues, including “the prospects of an early peaceful end to the war” in Ukraine. However, he made no public mention at the time of offering Slovakia as a venue for peace talks.