Slovakia to hold first Moscow energy talks since 2022, straining EU ties
Robert Fico's government will join Russia at a Moscow meeting on 26 October on energy supplies, resuming contacts suspended since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Slovakia will join Russia at a meeting in Moscow on 26 October to discuss energy supplies, the Slovak foreign ministry said, resuming a cooperation process suspended after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It would be the first such meeting since the invasion, Reuters reported.
The Russian-Slovak intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific and technical cooperation will focus on energy, including nuclear power, as well as agriculture, the environment, sport and culture, the ministry said. Slovakia wants to discuss gas supplies and the continuation of oil deliveries, it added.
The resumption follows repeated visits to Moscow by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, including one in May. Fico's position has stood out increasingly within the 27-member EU since Hungary's pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Orban, lost power in elections in April.
Slovakia buys Russian oil and gas and is due to suspend its gas purchases by the end of 2027 under an EU plan intended to cut off funding for Russia's war. The foreign ministry said Slovakia's approach still rests on its EU and NATO membership and the commitments that come with it, while leaving room for dialogue with Moscow.
Fico, a populist nationalist in his fourth term as prime minister, has criticised EU sanctions on Russia and blamed Ukraine for a cut in oil supplies to Slovakia earlier this year, a disruption Kyiv has said was caused by Russian strikes. He has suspended Slovak military aid to Ukraine, though exports of ammunition and military equipment, including from state-owned companies, continue on a commercial basis.
Fico has said he would prefer Slovakia to be neutral rather than a NATO member and has said he does not want Slovak soldiers fighting a war with Russia triggered by the alliance's mutual-defence clause. He has said the West could provoke a confrontation with Russia; Western intelligence agencies have said Western actions are purely defensive and have warned of possible escalation by Moscow.
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What we know
- Slovakia's foreign ministry said it will join Russia at a meeting in Moscow on 26 October on energy supplies, the first such meeting since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- The talks will cover energy, including nuclear power, plus agriculture, environment, sport and culture.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made repeated visits to Moscow, including in May, and has criticised EU sanctions on Russia.
- Fico has suspended Slovak military aid to Ukraine and said he would prefer Slovakia to be neutral rather than a NATO member.
Why it matters for Europe
Slovakia's return to energy talks with Moscow is the clearest sign yet of Fico's government pulling away from the common EU and NATO line on Russia, at a time when the bloc is trying to cut off funding for Russia's war through sanctions and a 2027 deadline to end gas imports. Fico's stated preference for Slovak neutrality over NATO membership, and his doubts about the alliance's mutual-defence clause, go further than the sanctions disputes that have also strained relations between Budapest and Brussels in the past.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Jurnal.md: Nouă copii din regiunea transnistreană, implicați în activități de propagandă la Moscova; Avertismentul Promo Lex
- Observator News: Noul plan de pace discutat de Witkoff cu Putin azi în Rusia. Moscova: Nu vom face concesii politice
- Digi24: Slovacia se rupe de UE și NATO în privința Rusiei. Guvernul lui Robert Fico reia consultările energetice cu Moscova
- Jurnal.md: Guvernul lui Robert Fico reia consultările energetice cu Moscova
- HotNews: Decizia unui aliat european al lui Putin, într-un nou gest de ruptură cu UE și NATO
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What did Slovakia agree to do?
- Its foreign ministry said Slovakia will join Russia at a meeting in Moscow on 26 October on energy supplies, the first such contact since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Why is this significant for the EU and NATO?
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly criticised EU sanctions on Russia, suspended Slovak military aid to Ukraine and said he would prefer Slovakia to be neutral rather than a NATO member.
- Does Slovakia still buy Russian energy?
- Yes; Slovakia buys Russian oil and gas and is due to suspend its gas purchases by the end of 2027 under an EU plan.
This article was written with AI assistance from 5 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.