Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Wednesday that he would attend World War II commemorations in Moscow in May, following an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fico’s government strengthened relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. It is not the first time the Slovak authoritarian politician has expressed his friendship with Putin’s regime. Last month, he appeared in an interview on Russia’s state-run Rossiya-1 television, during which he criticised the EU’s approach to the war in Ukraine.
Fico has previously expressed a desire to participate in the events in Moscow next year.
“I am pleased to accept the official invitation from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to participate in these important celebrations,” Fico explained in a post on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Slovak government office reported that Fico spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. The discussion focused on the war in Ukraine, which borders Slovakia, as Fico opposes the EU assistance to Ukraine. Since taking office over a year ago, Fico’s nationalist government has halted military supplies to Kyiv, although it continues to allow commercial sales.
His position towards the war in Ukraine aligns with that of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and contrasts sharply with the official stance of the European Union.
