Full Breakdown
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Moscow Visit and the Disputed Ukrainian Message
5/11/2026, 2:34:43 AM
Core Event: Fico’s Meeting with Putin and the Alleged Message
On 9 May 2026, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico travelled to Moscow for Victory Day commemorations, laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but skipping the military parade. In a post-flight briefing he said he had delivered a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Russian President Vladimir Putin indicating Kyiv’s willingness to meet “in any format.” Fico added that any future talks would require Zelenskyy to initiate a direct phone call to the Kremlin.
Background: Recent Ukraine-Slovakia Dialogue and Victory Day
Fico’s Moscow trip followed two face-to-face meetings with Zelenskyy in Yerevan (4 May) and a series of diplomatic overtures after the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The visit made Fico the only European Union head of government to attend Russia’s Victory Day events, a move he defended by calling himself the “black sheep of the EU.”
Timeline of Key Developments
- 4 May – Zelenskyy meets Fico in Yerevan; discusses diplomatic positions.
- 7 May – Slovak Deputy Foreign Minister Rastislav Chovanec states the Moscow visit aims to “liaise between Kyiv and Moscow.”
- 8 May – Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov reports Fico will meet Putin but denies any message transmission.
- 9 May – Fico arrives in Moscow, meets Putin, and publicly announces the alleged Ukrainian message.
- 9 May onward – Poland and the Baltic states deny Fico’s aircraft overflight, forcing a detour through the Czech Republic.
- 9–11 May – A U.S.–backed three-day ceasefire is declared; Russia violates it with attacks on 10 May.
Official Statements & Responses
- Robert Fico asserted he conveyed Zelenskyy’s readiness for a leader-level meeting and emphasized that “negotiations are a thousand times more useful than mutual killing.” He also called the ceasefire “absolutely necessary” for diplomatic space.
- Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide, said Fico “informed our president… that he had indeed met with Zelenskyy” and that Zelenskyy “shared his assessment… but did not convey any messages.”
- Dmytro Lytvyn, adviser to Zelenskyy, recalled that Zelenskyy told Fico Ukraine “seeks an end to the war… and is ready to meet at leader level in a substantive format.”
- Rastislav Chovanec, Slovak State Secretary, described the visit as an opportunity to “communicate with all parties” and to obtain “valuable information from Putin on how he views efforts to end the war.”
Criticism & Opposition
Slovak MP Michal Simecka condemned the trip, stating there is “no normal, legitimate reason why Robert Fico should spend this day in Moscow.” Several EU leaders and the Slovak opposition echoed concerns that the visit undermined a unified European stance on Russia.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources diverge on whether Fico actually transmitted Zelenskyy’s message. Fico and Slovak officials claim he did; the Kremlin’s Ushakov insists no message was passed. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed whether Zelenskyy authorized a specific communiqué. The content of any alleged message remains undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If the Ukrainian president is interested in a meeting, he must contact his Russian counterpart by phone” — Robert Fico, Slovak Prime Minister
- “(T)here is no normal, legitimate reason why Robert Fico should spend this day in Moscow," Slovak MP Michal Simecka said on May 9, according to the Slovak news outlet Aktuality.” — Michal Simecka, Slovak MP
- “Zelensky shared with him his assessment of the current situation in the Russian-Ukrainian context. But Zelensky did not convey any messages through him. It turned out that Fico simply provided a fairly detailed account of what he had discussed with Zelensky.” — Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide
- “Reminder Poland, as well as all three Baltic countries, banned Fico from flying over their territory to Moscow for the May 9 parade.” — UNN report
What’s Next
Slovakia’s foreign ministry has indicated that Fico will seek clarification from both Kyiv and Moscow on the feasibility of a direct phone call between the presidents. The European Union is expected to discuss the diplomatic implications of the visit at its next foreign affairs council, while the ceasefire’s durability remains under scrutiny after the 10 May violations.
