Slovakia is one of the EU countries that has been most dependent on Russian gas via pipelines through Ukraine. But the trade ceased when a contract expired at the turn of the year, and neither Ukraine's leader Zelensky nor his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has wanted to renew the agreement during the raging war.
The gas shortage is putting pressure on Fico, who in a Facebook post seeks contact with Zelensky.
Your decision to stop gas transfers is harming Ukraine, Slovakia, and the entire EU, says Fico, and proposes a meeting:
It can take place on Slovak territory, near the border with Ukraine, continues Fico, and even gives Zelensky a travel tip that there are direct trains from Kyiv to the Slovak city of Kosice.
Fico is known as one of the EU's most Russia-friendly leaders, and has had a frosty relationship with Ukraine's government since before. Zelensky's response was affirmative, but cool:
"OK. Come to Kyiv on Friday", he writes on X.
How Fico stands on this is still unclear. He sparked outrage and criticism when he traveled to Moscow in December and met Putin, but social media is now full of speculations about whether he wants – and dares – to travel to war-torn Kyiv.
