Slovak leader's Russia interview sparks national outrage
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as the first head of government of a NATO and European Union country since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, gave an interview to Russian television channel Rossiya-1. During the conversation, he expressed his readiness to meet with Vladimir Putin.
2:46 PM EDT, October 30, 2024
"If necessary, I am ready to talk with President Putin without hesitation," Fico said during a conversation with Olga Skabeyeva, the host of the program "60 Minutes," according to Slovak media reports.
The Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to participate in the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Moscow next year. He assured that he would "gladly attend these ceremonies."
Fico noted that Ukraine should receive security guarantees. At the same time, he stated that "there is no rational justification for why Russia would be interested in a conflict with the entire world."
The Slovak Prime Minister said that Kyiv—by seeking medium- and long-range missiles—only escalates the tension.
Fico on Russian TV: opposition calls it a disgrace
Fico's appearance on Russian television was met with harsh criticism in Slovakia. Michal Šimečka, chairman of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) movement, called it a "disgrace."
Olga Skabeyeva, known for hosting the propaganda program "60 Minutes," described the interview as an "exclusive interview with the leader of a NATO and EU country—Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who survived an assassination attempt on his life due to his views on Ukraine." Excerpts from the conversation were posted on the Telegram platform.
Let's recall, the Slovak Prime Minister was shot on May 15 in the town of Handlová in the western part of the country, where an off-site government meeting was taking place when he stepped out onto the street to meet his supporters.
The 71-year-old attacker, who fired several shots from a pistol at the Prime Minister from close range, was arrested. During the investigation, he testified that he acted out of political motives.
