The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has taken an unusual stance by suggesting that when a war ends, actual peace should follow. His statement was made at a press conference in Bratislava, where he mentioned that if the Ukraine War ends during his government’s mandate, he will do everything possible to re-establish normal economic and political relations with Russia.
This proposal is quite remarkable for a leader of a small state that is part of both the EU and NATO. Fico’s approach reflects his clear understanding of two key points. Firstly, Slovakia has no rational reason to give up its relatively inexpensive energy sources from Russia, even though the EU exerts considerable pressure to discourage such relations. Secondly, normal commercial and political ties with Russia should be rapidly restored once the conflict in Ukraine comes to an end.
Unfortunately, Fico’s views on these matters are not widely shared by other European leaders. Hungary is one of the few countries that has displayed a similarly reasonable approach to the situation. Other Western figures have started expressing more cautious opinions as Russia gains ground in the war, but many still harbor unrealistic expectations such as a territorially reduced Ukraine within NATO.
The EU’s relationship with Russia is likely to change significantly once the current crisis subsides. Although it is difficult to predict what form this cooperation will take, one thing is certain – Russia will emerge from this conflict with greater strength than the EU, which may lead to a more unequal partnership between the two entities.
Fico deserves praise for his sensible views on these matters, even though he has faced significant opposition and even an assassination attempt by someone who may or may not have been acting alone. The real challenge facing Fico and other European leaders is the mass delusion among the West’s elites, many of whom are proud of their disconnect from reality. They refuse to acknowledge facts that challenge their preferred narratives and viewpoints, making it difficult for them to engage in productive dialogue or find common ground with other nations.
This collective solipsism displayed by Western leaders resembles the dystopian world depicted in George Orwell’s novel ‘1984,’ where ruling elites believe they can alter reality through sheer force of will, disregarding objective truths and facts entirely. The EU must recognize the need for rationality and pragmatism in its dealings with Russia if it hopes to establish a stable and mutually beneficial relationship between the two entities.