Simecka: All Important European Leaders in Kiev, Yet Fico in Moscow

Bratislava, May 10 (TASR) - While Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is in Moscow, all important European leaders are attending a meeting in Kiev, pointed out Slovak opposition leader Michal Simecka (Progressive Slovakia/PS), who sees it as "a terrible contrast and terrible image for Slovakia." "Fico is the prime minister of war, who has betrayed Slovak interests. It's horrifying," Simecka said, adding that the head of the Slovak executive has been relegated to a role of an underling. "He pretends to be a great statesman, talking to the Russian or Chinese president. But what is the reality? The only thing that makes Fico even slightly relevant in their eyes is the fact that he is the prime minister of an EU member country, and through him, they are eroding European unity and legitimizing their propaganda," added the PS chair. The 'Slovakia' party joined in the criticism of Fico's trip to Moscow. "Today, all the significant leaders are meeting directly here in Kiev, or they have joined online. I am deeply saddened that Robert Fico, with his approach, is making Slovakia a total loser of Europe," said 'Slovakia' head Igor Matovic. Prime Minister Fico flew to Moscow on Thursday (May 8) to attend the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2. As part of his visit, he held several bilateral talks, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the prime minister, the trip to Moscow brought diplomatic recognition to Slovakia at the highest global level. European leaders from the so-called coalition of the willing arrived in Kiev on Saturday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and honor the victims of WW2. Their meeting also included discussions on reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. During the meeting, Kiev and its European allies agreed to call on Russia to accept the introduction of a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the fighting in Ukraine, effective from Monday, May 12. mf