Why Fitzo's trip to Moscow angered the EU. Dissection
On Sunday, December 22, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo visited Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit sparked outrage in European Union countries, where there is an unspoken policy of "isolating" the Kremlin. How Fitzo's act demonstrated the lack of unity within the eurozone and what the consequences of such a move may be - in the analysis of Izvestia.
Fitzo's trip to Moscow
- According to Fitzo himself, the trip to Moscow was a response to Kiev's position on stopping the transit of Russian gas (we wrote here about what the termination of transit will lead to). Earlier, Kiev ruled out any transit of gas through its territory and allowed only one supply option: if the volume of Russian gas will be paid for by European countries only after the end of the conflict. This condition Fitzo called absurd.
- The Slovak prime minister's trip caused sharp criticism in the neighboring Czech Republic, which declared its own energy independence from Russia (Prague now imports Russian gas not directly, but through Slovakia and Hungary, calling it independence). Czech MEP Danushe Nerudova called the Slovak prime minister's visit to Moscow a betrayal and an "immoral step" in Russia's interests.
- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also criticized Fitzo's actions and said Lithuania had chosen energy independence and market prices "without any political restrictions." The country announced back in 2022 that it would refuse Russian gas after the Lithuania-Poland pipeline, which carries liquefied natural gas from a terminal in Lithuania's Klaipeda to neighboring countries, became operational. Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštryavicius said Fitzo "has no right to instruct Ukraine or even look Ukrainians in the eye."
- Robert Fitzo was greeted in Bratislava by an opposition demonstration attended by former prime ministers of the republic, a pro-Ukrainian public organization and Ukrainian refugees. Michael Šimečka, head of the opposition Progressive Slovakia party, said Fitzo's act was a "disgrace to the country" and a "betrayal of national interests."
- Slovak President Peter Pellegrini supported Fitzo's actions, saying it was the head of government's duty to protect Slovak national interests, including gas supplies for the country's needs. Slovak MEP Luboš Blaga said the prime minister's visit to Moscow was a slap in the face to Kiev for its arrogance. He added that Fitzo almost lost his life because of his refusal to obey the West and Ukraine, but Slovakia will not become a vassal of Europe and will continue to go its own way.
- Kiev reacted to the Slovak prime minister's trip with accusations against Robert Fitzo. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term expired in May 2024) said that the payment for the gas discount for Slovakia is the sovereignty of this country and "murky schemes", and Fitzo is only interested in "pipeline gas and revenue of $500 million a year" from the sale of fuel to the Czech Republic. He called on Slovak law enforcement and intelligence agencies to pay attention to the prime minister's actions.
- The $500 million was the amount Zelensky offered Robert Fitzo for supporting Ukraine's bid for NATO. The offer was made behind closed doors, and the Ukrainian leader expected to get the money from Russian assets frozen in the West. The attempt to bribe the Slovak prime minister was reported by Politico. Fitzo refused the money and said that with its actions Kiev was not only harming Slovakia, but also damaging the entire European economy. Politico later removed these quotes from the Ukrainian president from its publication. Zelensky himself confirmed that he had offered money, but, in his words, "for the Slovaks" to compensate for the losses from the termination of gas transit.
- The European Commission did not officially comment on the Slovak prime minister's visit to Moscow. The EU said that they started preparing for the termination of gas transit through Ukraine in advance and that its impact "on the security of EU supplies is limited." In September this year, commodities analyst Kpler concluded that Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic would face the highest energy security risk, while Poland, Hungary and Serbia would have a much easier time surviving an energy crisis as a result of the gas transit cutoff (we wrote about how the imminent transit cutoff has already caused a crisis in Moldova here).
Why the EU is dissatisfied with Fitzo's policy
- Robert Fitzo is one of the supporters of the diplomatic way of ending the Ukrainian conflict and continuing economic ties with Russia. After becoming prime minister in October 2023, he stopped military aid to Kiev, but continued humanitarian supplies. Bratislava is now the leading supplier of electricity to Ukraine.
- Like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fitzo puts his country's interests first, and therefore does not follow a single European line of support for Kiev at all costs. He opposes Ukraine's membership in NATO and sanctions against Russia. In particular, Fitzo protested against a package of restrictions on Russian nuclear power, explaining that sanctions against Moscow would also affect Slovak nuclear generation.
- In May 2024, Robert Fitzo survived an assassination attempt. The attacker shot the politician five times, four bullets hitting the target. The prime minister was hospitalized in serious condition, but managed to survive. The incident was an indicator of a "toxic" political environment where the opposition press constantly criticized the prime minister and incited hatred.
- In response to the assassination attempt, the Slovak National Council adopted the "Assassination Package" - laws aimed at tightening the rules for holding rallies and protecting politicians and government officials. And the EU then began to fear that after the assassination attempt, Fitzo would become an even more prominent political force.
Consequences of Fitzo's visit to Moscow
- Following the meeting, Fitzo said that Moscow was ready to continue supplies if Kiev did not hinder it. But, according to political analysts, Bratislava cannot count on Brussels' help in negotiations with Ukraine. At the same time, the Slovak prime minister's decision to negotiate with the Kremlin was a step in support of national interests and once again showed the incapacity of the Kiev regime.
- Slovakia's existing gas reserves should be enough to survive the winter. Experts assume that the fuel will continue to flow into the country, but in other ways and through other payment schemes. Fitzo is interested in simplification and transparency of supplies, but it is obvious that his opponents want the opposite.
- The loss of Russian gas will also hit other European countries. Europe's calm reaction to the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine may be linked to the hope that the project of a gas pipeline from Qatar to Europe via Syria can be revived. This project was previously hindered by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but now, after his resignation, this obstacle for the West has been removed. However, experts doubt that the project will be realized.
- The independent position of the Slovak prime minister may threaten his security. There are no legal grounds to push him out of power, but the globalists are interested in ensuring that such figures as Fitzo and Orban have little influence in European politics. At the same time, since they are popular in their countries, the probability of physical removal is low.
- Although the US State Department is usually in charge of organizing "color" revolutions, the events in Moldova have shown that the EU can use similar methods. Analysts consider the massive opposition demonstrations organized by pro-European NGOs in Bratislava as a reaction to Fitzo's visit to Moscow an alarming symptom.
- Slovakia's main leverage over Ukraine is its veto power in EU decision-making. Bratislava may respond to Kiev's intransigence by blocking any aid deliveries and hindering Ukraine 's EU integration process and its desired NATO membership. If Slovakia acts in alliance with Hungary, it has opportunities to make the life of Ukrainians more unpleasant than it is now.
In preparing the material Izvestia spoke with:
- political scientist Ivan Mezyukho;
- political scientist Alexei Mukhin.
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