Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has expressed concern over Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's recent visit to Moscow, according to Sky News on December 23.
Lipavský pointed to Czechia’s decision to reduce reliance on Russian energy, describing it as a step to maintain independence and uphold national interests.
"It was the Czech government that secured independence from Russian energy supplies so that we wouldn't have to crawl in front of a mass murderer," Lipavský said.
He also mentioned Czechia’s earlier decision to postpone intergovernmental consultations with Slovakia, noting that recent developments reinforce the rationale behind this move.
Previously, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that during his December 22 meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin they discussed gas transit, the war in Ukraine, and efforts to normalize relations between Russia and Slovakia.
On December 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for his perceived dependence on Russia following Fico’s recent meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")