Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is open to Slovakia's proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to end the conflict, which he said Russia is determined to bring to an end.
Putin, who this week hosted Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Kremlin, said that Fico, who is against the European Union in support of Ukraine, has promised his country to host talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin said the Slovak authorities “… would be happy to provide their country as a place for negotiations. We are unopposed, when it comes down to it. Why not? Since Slovakia is not that neutral.”
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Slovakia is seen as one of the growing camp of central and eastern EU member states that do not hesitate to support Ukraine, and support negotiations with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly criticized Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, for the friendly tone Fico has taken towards Russia since returning to power after elections in 2023.
Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to talks to end the conflict with Kyiv, but will still pursue its goals in Ukraine.
Putin said on Thursday that Russia could use a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as the Oreshnik but was in no rush to do so.
“We are not leaving out the possibility of using it today and tomorrow, if necessary,” Putin said.
If necessary, Putin said, Russia can use more powerful medium-range weapons.
