**Slovak PM Meets Putin in Moscow**
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on December 22, 2024. This meeting comes as Ukraine said it would not allow Russian gas to be transited through the country.
Ukraine is stopping Russian gas transit because of Russia’s ongoing aggression. Slovak and Hungarian pipelines cross Ukraine, which means they currently receive Russian natural gas. Slovakia wants to keep getting this gas, but at a stable price.
**EU Not Happy**
Only two other EU leaders have met with Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine: Austria’s Karl Nehammer and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. These meetings were not well received by the EU. They were even criticized by the EU’s executive arm.
**Fico’s Visit**
Slovak Prime Minister Fico said he discussed the war in Ukraine, finding peace, and improving relations between Slovakia and Russia with Putin. The Kremlin called this meeting a “working visit.”