Slovak Prime Minister Fico Meets Putin in Moscow Amid International Isolation

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, drawing sharp criticism for aligning with an internationally isolated leader during ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine. The meeting places Fico alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as European Union leaders who maintain diplomatic contact with Putin despite widespread Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The visit underscores growing concerns within the EU about Slovakia's foreign policy direction under Fico, whose Smer-SD party returned to power in 2023. Critics argue that such meetings undermine European unity and provide legitimacy to Putin's regime at a time when most Western leaders have severed diplomatic ties with Moscow.