Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico renewed his call for the European Union to end sanctions against Russia after a meeting this week with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, according to Radio Liberty.
Slovakia holds the rotating EU presidency and will host a meeting of the bloc`s foreign ministers next week. He is one of several central European leaders opposed to continuing sanctions on Russia, the report said.
”Personally, I think it is time to view the sanctions rationally and to say that they harm both the EU and Russia,” Fico said on Facebook on August 26, Radio Liberty reported.
”We agreed with Vladimir Putin that our common pursuit is to revive our mutual trade again.”
Slovakia imports almost all its gas and oil from Russia, as well as nuclear fuel to generate two power plants. It exports cars to Russia, according to the report.
Hungary has taken a similar line as Fico, who was re-elected for a third time in March. Czech President Milos Zeman also has also repeatedly called for ending sanctions.
27 August 2016
it only makes sense.