“They [President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Fico] had a
conversation about diplomatic positions and prospects, and, in particular,
Prime Minister Fico asked what Ukraine was ready for. The president told him
that we seek an end to the war, that dignified solutions are needed to make
that happen, and that Ukraine is ready to meet at the level of leaders in a
substantive format so that those kinds of decisions can be reached. Presumably,
Fico will speak along those lines,” Interfax-Ukraine
quoted Lytvyn as saying.
Slovak Deputy Foreign Minister Rastislav Chovanec also said
Fico may pass a message from Zelenskyy to Putin, TASR reported.
Chovanec said Fico will visit Moscow, where he will lay
flowers and meet with Putin.
“The prime minister’s trip to Moscow is primarily dedicated
to commemorating the end of World War II. He will not take part in the military
parade, but will only lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But yes,
in addition to that, he will also meet with the Russian president and may
deliver a message from the president of Ukraine, whom he met twice last week,”
Chovanec said.
Fico may also receive “valuable information” from Putin
about his view of efforts to end the war, Chovanec added.
Fico previously said he would travel to Russia on May 9 but
would not attend the parade.
The list of foreign guests expected in Moscow for May 9 this
year is expected to be short. As the Astra Telegram channel noted, the only
sitting heads of state expected at the parade are Malaysia’s king and the
president of communist Laos.
Fico, as he did last year, will be the only politician from
an EU country to visit Russia on May 9.