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| Putin holds talks in Moscow with EU country’s leader | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who was shot by an activist over his views on Ukraine, has embarked on a surprise visit to the Russian capital | Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who was shot by an activist over his views on Ukraine, has embarked on a surprise visit to the Russian capital |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Kremlin on Sunday evening. | Russian President Vladimir Putin received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Kremlin on Sunday evening. |
| Commenting on the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not know what issues the leaders planned to discuss, but added that “the visit was planned several days ago.” | Commenting on the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not know what issues the leaders planned to discuss, but added that “the visit was planned several days ago.” |
| He also did not rule out that the issue of Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, as well as other foreign policy issues, would be on the agenda. “But we will have to wait until the end of the meeting,” Peskov added. | He also did not rule out that the issue of Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, as well as other foreign policy issues, would be on the agenda. “But we will have to wait until the end of the meeting,” Peskov added. |
| A hint that talks were afoot came on Saturday when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he’d “unofficially learned” that it was “absolutely certain” that Fico would visit Putin, but suggested this would be on Monday rather than Sunday. | A hint that talks were afoot came on Saturday when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he’d “unofficially learned” that it was “absolutely certain” that Fico would visit Putin, but suggested this would be on Monday rather than Sunday. |
| The visit comes after Fico said earlier this month that his government was in “very intense” talks on supplies of natural gas for 2025. The flow of gas to Slovakia, which is dependent on Russian energy, has been jeopardized by Ukraine’s intention to not extend a transit agreement with Moscow which expires on December 31. Russian gas to Slovakia is mainly delivered through the Soviet-era Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline. | The visit comes after Fico said earlier this month that his government was in “very intense” talks on supplies of natural gas for 2025. The flow of gas to Slovakia, which is dependent on Russian energy, has been jeopardized by Ukraine’s intention to not extend a transit agreement with Moscow which expires on December 31. Russian gas to Slovakia is mainly delivered through the Soviet-era Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline. |
| “I am confident that a solution can be found for [gas supplies] to several EU countries with gas transit via the territory of Slovakia and Ukraine maintained,” Fico previously said. | “I am confident that a solution can be found for [gas supplies] to several EU countries with gas transit via the territory of Slovakia and Ukraine maintained,” Fico previously said. |
| Fico has been one of the EU leaders most critical of Western support for Ukraine, with his government cutting off state military aid to Kiev. He has also repeatedly urged the EU to drop sanctions against Russia, insisting that the bloc must resume dialogue with Moscow once the conflict is over. | Fico has been one of the EU leaders most critical of Western support for Ukraine, with his government cutting off state military aid to Kiev. He has also repeatedly urged the EU to drop sanctions against Russia, insisting that the bloc must resume dialogue with Moscow once the conflict is over. |
| In October Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, has revealed that he faced a potential second attempt on his life, due to his stance on the Ukraine conflict. Fico was shot at close range by an activist who opposed the PM’s views on relations with Kiev. | In October Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, has revealed that he faced a potential second attempt on his life, due to his stance on the Ukraine conflict. Fico was shot at close range by an activist who opposed the PM’s views on relations with Kiev. |