Story perspectives

Fico Carries Zelensky Invite, Barred, Attends Moscow Parade

5/11/2026

Summary

Fico Sends Invite

Prime Minister Robert Fico delivered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s invitation for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
He reported that Putin said Kyiv must call the Kremlin directly to arrange the meeting.
Fico attended the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, calling himself the EU’s ‘black sheep’ and warning against a new Iron Curtain.
Poland and the Baltic states barred his plane, forcing a detour through the Czech Republic.

Summary

Fico Moscow Visit

Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide, said Minister Robert Fico failed to deliver President Volodymyr Zelensky’s messages to President Vladimir Putin and noted talks on Russian-Slovak energy supplies.
Rastislav Chovanec, Foreign Minister, said the visit aimed to mark WWII’s end and make Bratislava a Kyiv-Moscow liaison.
Michal Simecka, Opposition MP, condemned the May 9 trip as lacking reason for Robert Fico to be in Moscow, while Robert Fico backed extending ceasefire of May 9.

Summary

Fico Forwards Notes

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov briefed UNN that President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico completed talks.
Ushakov reported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave only a war assessment to Fico, no direct message to Putin.
He said Fico forwarded detailed notes of the Zelenskyy discussion to the Russian delegation.
Ushakov said President Donald Trump hopes for a longer truce, confirming a three-day pause on May 9, 10 and 11.

Summary

Fico Lays Flowers

Prime Minister Robert Fico will lay flowers at Kremlin Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on May 9, after his plane received overflight permission from Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden and Finland but was denied by Poland and the Baltic states.
State Secretary Rastislav Chovanec said the EU must sit at any future peace-negotiation table.
Adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said President Volodymyr Zelensky told Fico Ukraine wants war ended and is ready for talks.

History

Historical Context

On 5 December 1994 Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest Memorandum, under which Kyiv surrendered roughly 17 % of the Soviet nuclear arsenal. Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 invasion broke those assurances, prompting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s May 9 meeting in Moscow to revive disputed security talks.

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Fico Sends Invite

Prime Minister Robert Fico delivered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s invitation for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
He reported that Putin said Kyiv must call the Kremlin directly to arrange the meeting.
Fico attended the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, calling himself the EU’s ‘black sheep’ and warning against a new Iron Curtain.
Poland and the Baltic states barred his plane, forcing a detour through the Czech Republic.

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