Fico's Russia Trip Damages Slovakia's Interests, Says Odor's Former Government

Bratislava, December 23 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico's trip to Russia damages the interests of Slovakia and its international reputation, members of former Premier Ludovit Odor's caretaker government stated in a press release on Monday. "This unannounced, non-transparent foreign trip of the premier and his negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are in direct contradiction with Slovak interests and adopted strategic documents. It harms Slovakia's position in the European Union, as well as our political and security allies, and severely damages our country's image abroad," they said. They emphasised that Fico visited a country of an aggressor that officially calls Slovakia an enemy, while also threatening Slovakia's allies with nuclear attacks. They also dismissed claims stating that the visit was aimed at securing gas supplies, warning that Russia was using energy as a weapon and a tool of blackmail. Premier Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday. They spoke about the military situation in Ukraine, the possibilities of a peaceful solution to the war, as well as bilateral relations between Slovakia and Russia that Fico wishes to standardise. Russian gas transit was also on the agenda of their talks. Fico claims that he has been pursuing a sovereign policy in relation to all four cardinal directions and that he informed the EU's top officials about his trip in advance. lin/mcs