The EU and NATO are upset, and Ukraine strongly protests, over Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico's surprise visit to Russia and talks with host President Vladimir Putin.
For the West, going to Russia to meet Mr. Putin is taboo. But in fact, Mr. Fico did not set a precedent. Not long after the conflict in Ukraine broke out, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visited Russia. Or right after taking over the rotating presidency of the EU for the second half of this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also visited Russia. Recently, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took the initiative to talk to Mr. Putin by phone.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico holds talks with host President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 22, 2024
All of the EU and NATO members mentioned above do not always contradict the EU or NATO’s common policy stance and orientation towards Moscow or support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. But these countries all have their own ways to ensure their own interests.
Mr. Fico went to Russia to meet Mr. Putin right after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Slovakia’s proposal to continue to let Russian gas supplies to Slovakia transit through Ukraine. The EU agreed to let Slovakia continue to import Russian gas, but Mr. Zelensky did not agree. Kyiv is not ready to sacrifice Ukraine’s interests for Slovakia, and Mr. Fico is not ready to sacrifice Slovakia’s interests for Ukraine’s. The difference is that Ukraine and the EU will be disadvantaged by Mr. Fico letting Slovakia’s interests determine policy and guide actions. Mr. Fico cannot act otherwise because Slovakia is completely dependent on Russian gas supplies and is receiving preferential prices from Moscow while it has not yet found an alternative source of supply.
Ukraine criticizes NATO member over Russian gas
It can be seen that the longer the Ukraine conflict persists, the stronger the friction and conflict of interests among Western countries. Therefore, the more EU and NATO members "break the rules" to pave their own way in relations with Russia. Mr. Fico is only further evidence, not the final one.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loi-ich-dan-dat-hanh-dong-185241224223629948.htm
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