Putin says Slovakia may host peace talks with Ukraine by Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was open to Slovakia’s proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to end the conflict, which he said Russia was determined to reach.

Putin, who this week hosted Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Kremlin, said that Fico, an outspoken opponent of EU military support for Ukraine, had offered his country to host talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Putin said that the Slovak authorities “…would be happy for their country to provide a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position.”

Slovakia is seen as one of the growing camp of Central and Eastern European EU member states that are skeptical of support for Ukraine and support negotiations with Russia.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Planar said that Slovakia had long sought a peaceful solution to the conflict and that Putin’s comments were a “positive signal” to end the war.

“Slovak diplomacy is ready to actively contribute to the peace process in this way and we have also communicated this option to the Ukrainian partners” at a joint cabinet meeting in October, Planar said in a statement issued late Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly criticized Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, for the friendly tone taken by Fico towards Russia since his return to power after the 2023 elections.

Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to talks to end the conflict with Kiev, but will nevertheless achieve its goals in Ukraine.

Putin said on Thursday that Russia could use the new medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as Oreshnik again but was in no rush to do so.

“We do not rule out the possibility of using it today and tomorrow if necessary,” Putin said.

Putin said that if necessary, Russia could use more powerful medium-range weapons.