BRATISLAVA: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose pro-Russian views have put him at odds with allies, sought to deepen cooperation in energy, railway links and grain transport with war-hit neighbor Ukraine on Thursday.
After a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, Fico said Slovakia wanted to be a “good, friendly” neighbor to Ukraine.
Fico has led a shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy since coming to power last October, halting state military aid to Kyiv and opening communication channels with Moscow, even as the EU has sought to isolate Russia’s government.
Yet Fico has been keen to keep business ties with Kyiv, including continuing to allow commercial arms deals to go ahead.
“Ukraine needs help, and Ukraine needs to be shown solidarity,” Fico said in broadcast remarks alongside Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal after meeting in eastern Slovakia.
“There can of course be different opinions or views on that help or solidarity.”
Previous Slovak administrations had been staunch backers of Kyiv after Russia’s invasion in 2022, providing fighter jets and air defense systems, among other equipment. Fico reiterated on Thursday that Slovakia would continue allowing commercial deals for military supplies despite stopping state military aid.
He said the countries agreed that an old wide-gauge freight rail link from Slovakia’s second biggest city of Kosice should begin passenger service to Kyiv.
They will also modernize the main road border crossing and boost cross-border electricity transmission networks in the coming years.
Fico said Slovakia will continue to provide a corridor for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, while Shmyhal said they agreed to work on lifting restrictions on Ukrainian products which Slovakia and other countries put in place to protect domestic markets.
“We are aware that each of our states has its own national interests, its own priorities, which sometimes may not coincide,” Shmyhal said. “But at the same time we have absolutely good will and a pragmatic attitude.”
Slovakia’s pro-Russia PM deepens energy and transport ties to Ukraine
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Slovakia’s pro-Russia PM deepens energy and transport ties to Ukraine
- After a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, Fico said Slovakia wanted to be a “good, friendly” neighbor to Ukraine
- Fico has been keen to keep business ties with Kyiv, including continuing to allow commercial arms deals to go ahead
Pro-Palestinian activists stopped from disrupting Milan Cortina Olympics torch relay
- A third group of about 10 people that was monitored by police waved Palestinian flags when the relay passed by the city’s biggest university, La Sapienza
ROME: Two groups of pro-Palestinian activists were prevented by authorities from coming into contact with the opening stages of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay, Italian police said on Saturday.
Both groups — one of them with about 15 people — were removed before they reached the relay route in Rome, police said.
A third group of about 10 people that was monitored by police waved Palestinian flags when the relay passed by the city’s biggest university, La Sapienza.
There were also three people carrying signs in support of Venezuela near the American embassy.
In October, more than two million demonstrators marched through more than 100 Italian cities to protest the war in Gaza.
Olympic champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri began the relay in the statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi and the torch was carried for 33 kilometers (20 miles) before ending the day in Piazza del Popolo.
The relay will cover 12,000 kilometers (nearly 7,500 miles) and wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on Feb. 6.
In all, there will be 10,001 torch bearers.
The next stops on the torch relay are Viterbo on Sunday and Terni on Monday.
