Slovak PM Fico calls Zelenskyy enemy of Slovakia
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an "enemy" of Slovakia during an ongoing discussion about the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.
Source: European Pravda, citing Dennik N, a Slovak media outlet
Details: Fico made these comments at a session of the Slovak Parliament's Economic Committee, where he addressed Zelenskyy's recent remarks about the potential transit of gas from Azerbaijan to European countries.
Fico claimed that Zelenskyy has no choice but to talk about "some gas from Azerbaijan" and is "blowing bubbles, thinking these bubbles will free him from making tough decisions".
Quote from Fico: "Our enemy is Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy caused the problems we are facing. I don't like him because he is harming Slovakia."
More details: Fico reiterated Bratislava's stance that the "most realistic" option remains the restoration of Russian gas transit. He proposed that Slovakia could buy gas at the Russo-Ukrainian border, which would then be transported as Slovak gas through Ukrainian territory.
Background:
Fico's comments are the latest in his increasingly harsh rhetoric against Ukraine following Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of Russian gas at the start of 2025.
The Slovak prime minister has also expressed anger over Zelenskyy's support for mass anti-government protests in Slovakia earlier this month.
Support UP or become our patron!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
14 minutes ago
- Axios
Trump told Putin U.S. is ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran, Kremlin says
President Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Saturday that White House envoy Steve Witkoff is ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran's foreign minister, the Russian president's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said. Why it matters: Putin, in previous phone calls, proposed that Trump help in the nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran. The current crisis between Israel and Iran will be a test case for Trump's strategy of mending relations between the U.S. and Russia in order to solve crisis around the world together. Driving the news: The nuclear talks planned for Sunday in Muscat have been cancelled due to the Israeli attack against Iran, the foreign minister of Oman Badr al-Busaidi said. "While there will be no meeting Sunday, we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon," a U.S. official said. Trump told Axios on Friday that he thinks the Israeli strikes on Iran might help in pushing Iran toward a nuclear deal. Trump and Putin both spoke on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Putin spoke to Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. Putin told both Netanyahu and Pezeshkian that he is ready to mediate between the parties to prevent further escalation of tensions, the Kremlin said. Behind the scenes: Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Saturday that Iran will not continue its negotiations with the U.S. as long as the Israeli attack on Iran continues. He claimed the U.S. directly supports the Israeli strikes, the Iranian foreign ministry said. But two sources with direct knowledge said Araghchi told several foreign ministers in the last 36 hours that Iran will be willing to resume negotiations with the U.S. once its retaliation for the Israeli attack is over. What they're saying: Ushakov said in a briefing with reporters that Putin and Trump spoke for 50 minutes and discussed the war between Israel and Iran.

USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
In Trump phone call, Putin condemns Israel's strikes on Iran: Kremlin
In Trump phone call, Putin condemns Israel's strikes on Iran: Kremlin Putin told Trump that Russia was ready to resume talks with Ukraine after June 22, state media said. Show Caption Hide Caption Iran counterattacks, firing waves of missiles at Israel Iran launched a missile counterattack on Israel. This comes after Israel's missile attack damaged Iranian nuclear and military sites. "Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict," a Kremlin aide told reporters. MOSCOW − Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Donald Trump for 50 minutes on June 14, condemning the Israeli military operation against Iran and expressing concern about the risks of escalation, the Kremlin said. "Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. Trump, for his part, described events in the Middle East as "very alarming," according to Ushakov. But the two leaders said they do not rule out a return to the negotiating track on Iran's nuclear programme, Ushakov said. On Ukraine, Putin told the U.S. leader that Russia was ready to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians after June 22, according to state news agency RIA. Trump reiterated his interest in a speedy resolution to the conflict, the Kremlin aide said. Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.


The Hill
21 minutes ago
- The Hill
Putin and Trump discussed Middle East tensions, Ukraine talks on phone call, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Ukraine peace talks, Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said. During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia's proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue. 'The dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was naturally at the center of the exchange of opinions,' Ushakov told journalists following the conversation between Putin and Trump. 'Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,' he said, warning of 'unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.' Putin also emphasized Russia's readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps 'aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements' during U.S.-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. 'Russia's principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged,' Ushakov said. Trump described the regional situation as 'very alarming,' Ushakov said, but acknowledged the 'effectiveness' of Israel's strikes on targets in Iran. The leaders did not rule out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, according to Ushakov. According to Ushakov, Putin told Trump about the implementation of the agreements during peace talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, including the exchange of prisoners of war. 'Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age,' Ushakov said, along with expressing readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians. Trump, he said, 'noted his interest in a speedy end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.' Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.