The prime minister of Slovakia has expressed his admiration for the recent peace initiatives taken by his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban. This comes after Orban made a surprise visit to Moscow last week to meet with President Vladimir Putin and discuss ways to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. His visit followed an earlier unannounced trip to Kiev.
In a public address at Devin Castle near Bratislava, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico praised Orban’s efforts, stating that there are never enough peace talks and initiatives, and expressing his regret at not being able to join him on the mission due to his health.
The 59-year-old Fico survived an assassination attempt in May when a gunman shot him four times at close range. The attacker was motivated by Bratislava’s decision not to send weapons to Kiev, according to the Special Criminal Court.
In a video statement last month, Fico condemned efforts to downplay the attack and blame it solely on a deranged lone shooter. He criticized the EU and NATO for treating Russia and China as “mortal enemies” and said that anyone who doesn’t identify with their opinion is immediately labeled a Russian agent and politically marginalized internationally.
Fico returned to power for a fourth term as prime minister after his party, Slovak Social Democracy (SMER-SD), won the country’s parliamentary election last September. His government halted aid to Ukraine, raising the ire of NATO powers.