Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed a strong interest in restoring normal relations between Slovakia and the Russian Federation. He made this statement during a meeting with Putin in China, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in the energy sector for his country.
This is reported by Business • Media
“I want to say openly that we are extremely interested in normalizing relations between the Slovak Republic and the Russian Federation.”
Contradiction with EU Policy
Such statements by Robert Fico contradict the strategic line of the European Union, which has been trying to reduce dependence on energy resources from Russia since 2022. The EU has imposed restrictions on the import of Russian energy carriers in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Slovakia and Hungary, while remaining EU members, continue to maintain political and economic ties with Russia, which is due to their significant dependence on oil and gas supplies.
The Importance of the Turkish Stream for Energy Security
Robert Fico expressed gratitude for the stable gas supplies delivered through the Turkish Stream pipeline. This route is currently the only channel for transporting Russian gas to Europe. In 2025, Slovakia received approximately 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas through Hungary, which has direct access to the Turkish Stream.
However, according to recent data, gas supplies from Gazprom through this route decreased by 2% in August compared to July, reaching 50.4 million cubic meters per day. The reduction in volumes indicates the volatility of energy flows and keeps the issue of energy security relevant for Central European countries.