Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, known for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated on Monday that he criticised the positions of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Council President Antonio Costa during their recent visit to Ukraine. Fico claimed that these EU officials made statements on behalf of the European Union that “were not previously agreed upon by the European Council.” He added that their statements did not align with the conclusions of the EU.
In a telephone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Fico expressed views on specific topics that significantly differed from those of the European Commission and stated his intention to maintain this stance. He specifically mentioned Slovakia’s opposition to EU military aid to Ukraine, which has been a point of contention since Fico resumed the role of Prime Minister in autumn 2023.
Kaja Kallas and Antonio Costa had visited Kyiv the previous weekend, shortly after assuming their new EU positions, to express support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression. Reports indicate that Costa announced the EU’s plan to transfer funds from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, which could also be utilised for military purposes.
Fico, who shares views about Ukraine with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, recently announced that he accepted Putin’s invitation to attend World War II commemorations in Moscow in May.
