Fico confirms plan to meet Putin during Moscow visit
Photo: Robert Fico and Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that during his visit to Moscow on May 9, he plans to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, TASR reports.
Fico will visit Russia on May 9. According to the Slovak Prime Minister, he will lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow and hold a short meeting with Putin, but will not attend the military parade.
"It will be the same format as before," he said.
It is noted that during a summit in Armenia, no other leaders asked Fico about his trip to Russia.
According to the Slovak Prime Minister, everyone knows that he has "arguments that cannot be refuted." Fico also stressed the need for dialogue.
Fico’s visit to Moscow
Earlier, Estonia refused Fico’s request to use its airspace for a flight to Moscow for the May 9 parade.
Before that, the Slovak Prime Minister was also denied permission by Lithuania and Latvia, which banned his plane from flying through their airspace to Moscow for the May 9 parade. He said he would find an alternative route.
In addition, Poland has received Slovakia’s request to allow Fico’s plane to fly to Russia. Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Maciej Wiewiór said the request is currently under review.
Such restrictions on foreign politicians planning visits to Russia have been applied before. In particular, in May 2025, Estonia already blocked VIP flights to Moscow during Russia’s preparations for the May 9 parade.
Similar measures were taken by other Baltic states, Latvia and Lithuania, which did not allow the plane of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to pass through their airspace during his trip to the Russian capital.
