Zelenskyy should call Putin if he wants talks, Slovak PM Fico says
Slovak premier Robert Fico (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should personally call Russian leader Vladimir Putin if he is interested in negotiations to end the war, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after his visit to Moscow.
Fico said that during his visit to Moscow, he delivered a message from Zelenskyy to Putin.
"He (Zelenskyy — ed.) told me in Armenia during our personal meeting that he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in any format," the Slovak premier said.
At the same time, he publicly relayed the response he said he received from the Russian leader to the Ukrainian president's message.
"If the Ukrainian president is interested in a meeting, he should contact his Russian counterpart by phone," Fico said.
The Slovak prime minister also praised the extension of the ceasefire regime until May 11.
"I called the ceasefire absolutely necessary to create space for what is essential — diplomatic efforts, dialogue, negotiations, which are a thousand times more useful than mutual killing," he added.
Fico also said he "rejects a new Iron Curtain between the EU and Russia" and is "interested in standard, friendly, and mutually beneficial relations with this world state."
Message to Putin
Earlier, Slovak Foreign Ministry Secretary Rastislav Chovanec said that Prime Minister Robert Fico would deliver a message from Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on May 9.
According to him, Fico could also receive valuable information from the Kremlin leader on his views of efforts to end the war.
Zelenskyy's office clarified that Fico likely brought a signal to Moscow indicating that the Ukrainian president is ready for a leaders' meeting to end the war.
Meanwhile, Putin said on May 9 that he is ready to meet Zelenskyy not only in Moscow but also in a third country, with the main condition being the signing of a final agreement.
