Slovakia: Fico wants to "normalise" ties with Moscow
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has reaffirmed his intention of strengthening relations with Russia despite the war against Ukraine. At a meeting with the Russian ambassador in Bratislava he said that it was necessary to prepare for the time after the end of the war in Ukraine, and thus for the normalisation of relations with Russia. The national press thinks little of the initiative.
Incompatible goals
Aktuality.sk points out:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of its satellite states as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe to have befallen Moscow in the 20th century. It follows that even after the end of the war in Ukraine, Russia will keep trying to return to the state of affairs in 1997 and the times when we were still its socialist satellite. However, this is incompatible with Slovakia's top priority in foreign policy, which, according to Fico, is our membership of Nato.”
Friendship stronger than politics
Ukrainians and Slovaks will remain friends regardless of who is in power, Denník N insists:
“Even if Slovakia, with Russia's approval, ends all its aid for Ukraine, the standard of living of the Slovaks who voted for the current government will not improve. Food won't become cheaper, unheated apartment blocks will remain unheated. ... However, politicians will not be able to destroy relations between our two countries. Because we know that the Ukrainians have many friends in Slovakia. That's how it was, that's how it is and that's how it will continue to be. And politicians come and go.”