Putin says Slovakia ready to become a negotiating platform on Ukraine

Russia is not against Slovakia becoming a negotiating platform on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, 26 December. The corresponding proposal was made by visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo .

"As for the venue - yes, he (Fitzo. - Ed.) said, if it comes to negotiations, they would be happy to provide his country's site for such negotiations. We are not against it," the head of state said at a briefing after the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

As Putin added, Slovakia takes a neutral position on the current conflict, so such a proposal from the country's leadership is an absolutely acceptable option for Moscow.

Why Fitzo's trip to Moscow angered the EU. Dissection

Thetalks between Putin and Fitzo were held in the Kremlin on December 22. Then presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the visit of the Slovak prime minister had been planned several days before. After the talks, Fitzo said that his visit to Russia was a reaction to the statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired on May 20, about the termination of gas transit through Ukrainian territory. According to him, Putin said during the meeting that Russia was ready to supply gas to Slovakia directly after January 1, 2025.

On the same day, US President-elect Donald Trump said at a conference that he was waiting for a meeting with Putin to discuss the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. On December 23, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that several states had offered themselves as a platform for a meeting between Putin and Trump. However, he added that he would not name which states they were.

On December 24, Peskov said that there was no movement toward openness to negotiations on the part of Ukraine. He specified that Russia is open to resolving the situation, but Kiev does not demonstrate its readiness.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.