EU row erupts over Slovak PM’s meetings with Putin

A row has erupted within the European Union over Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who is attending a European Council meeting in Brussels, defended Fico’s visit to Mocsow, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Fico was there [in Moscow] and spoke with Putin. Because of this, a scandal has erupted [among European politicians], but when [US President Donald] Trump speaks with him [the Russian president], then everything is fine [for Fico’s critics],” Babiš noted.

Fico has visited Moscow several times and met with Putin.

His most recent trip to the Russian capital took place on May 9.

Before that, Putin and Fico met in September 2025 in Beijing on the sidelines of events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The Slovak prime minister also attended Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, 2025.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov