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A controversial trip to Moscow by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to further criticize his neighbour.<\/p>\n
“It was a clear mistake for Fico to believe that he could continue his shady dealings with Moscow indefinitely,” Zelensky said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Zelensky’s account of events is as follows: Before the Russian gas transit through Ukraine was halted, Kiev wanted to help Slovakia, but Fico “arrogantly denied” this offer, despite being warned by many European politicians.<\/p>\n
Now he is trying “to shift the blame onto others with PR, lies and loud accusations,” Zelensky wrote.<\/p>\n
“But the problem is that he bet on Moscow, not on his country, not on a united Europe and not on common sense,” Zelensky said. “It was a failed bet from the start.”<\/p>\n
Fico travelled to Moscow shortly before Christmas and spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of supplying Slovakia with Russian natural gas.<\/p>\n
Kiev allowed the transit contract with Europe to expire at the turn of the year so as not to give Moscow any more money for its war chest.<\/p>\n
On Friday evening, thousands of people protested in 15 Slovakian cities against the Ukraine policy of the left-wing nationalist Fico. They accused him of a pro-Russian course and of “betraying” Western allies and neighbouring Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia.<\/p>\n
The organizers of the demonstration criticized Fico’s trip to Moscow as “submission” to Russian interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n