Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár Meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Turkey

A high-level meeting between a European Union (EU) member state and a country that has attempted to separate from the EU has taken place, with high-ranking officials from the Slovak government and the Russian Foreign Minister in attendance.

Both countries announced on the 2nd (local time) that Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár had a separate meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a diplomatic forum in Turkey.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico reported that Blanár and Lavrov discussed the potential outcomes of a Ukraine peace summit to be held in Switzerland.

Fico described the meeting as an “instance of a balanced, sovereign diplomatic policy.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a declaration that “both sides discussed international issues, including Ukraine,” and “Russia is ready to restore relations with Slovakia in the fields of culture, humanitarian aid, and military commemoration.”

Lavrov said, “Russia prefers to work with countries like Slovakia and Hungary, which prioritize national interests even when EU or NATO member states raise issues.”

He added, “In this regard, we highly value the ability of Prime Minister Fico and his government to have their opinions on the global situation.”

This meeting is one of the few involving European and Russian high-ranking officials since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022 and has immediately received criticism from the Slovak opposition.

On the other hand, Fico, who regained power after winning the election with a promise to halt national military aid to Ukraine last year, has previously issued pro-Russian statements and criticized sanctions against Moscow.