Zelenskyy reported that Fico agreed to visit Ukraine, while Fico himself mentioned the meeting in the EU.

Zelensky Insists on Meeting with Slovak Prime Minister in Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico should take place in Ukraine, despite the Slovak side’s desire to hold negotiations in one of the European Union countries.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized in a conversation with journalists that during a phone conversation, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to visit Ukraine to discuss important cooperation issues. Zelensky stressed that a meeting in Ukraine would be more appropriate, as the important oil pipeline “Druzhba,” around which disputes have arisen, is located here.

The head of state noted that discussions on social networks do not bring significant results and insisted on a personal meeting. On February 27, Fico said that Ukraine allegedly was not interested in resuming oil transit to Slovakia. He confirmed that he accepted Zelensky’s invitation to meet and suggested agreeing on a convenient date, but noted his preference for EU countries for these negotiations.

Kyiv proposed alternative routes for oil delivery, not from Russia, including through Budapest and Bratislava. The Ukrainian side sees no sense in restoring “Druzhba,” as the pipeline was damaged due to hostile strikes, and Russian troops are shelling repair teams. Meanwhile, Slovakia and Hungary temporarily halted diesel exports and emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. Despite this, “Ukrenergo” reports that imports from Slovakia continue.

On February 27, it was announced the creation of a joint Hungarian-Slovak commission to examine the state of the “Druzhba” pipeline. European countries urge Ukraine to engage in restoring the pipeline, observing the timelines for repairs.