RUSSIA/UKRAINE – The Russian president’s comments follow Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial Moscow visit, seen as a challenge to EU unity against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said that he was open to accepting Slovakia’s offer as a place for peace negotiations with Ukraine. Putin’s comments follow Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico’s surprise and controversial visit to Moscow on Sunday, which is widely seen as a blow to the EU bloc’s unity against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ”He first and foremost spoke about a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. He was pushing it. I don’t know what claims could be made against him by Europe or anyone else. But he spoke about this and focused his attention on this,” the Russian leader said at a briefing in St. Petersburg on Thursday. Putin added that Fico offered to host peace talks with Ukraine in Slovakia, an option Russia will consider, as Slovakia’s position on the fighting in Ukraine is “acceptable” for Moscow. (Euronews)

Photo: President of Russia Vladimir Poetin.