Russia: Putin Receives Slovak Premier Fico

Moscow, 9 May (TASR) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday received Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in the Kremlin, the only EU leader visiting the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, TASR has reported, referring to stories published by the TASS and AFP agencies. "I know there were some difficulties with your trip to Moscow. But the important thing is that you're here," Putin told Fico during the meeting. The Russian delegation attending the talks included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev, Vice-premier Alexander Novak, and Education and Science Minister Valery Falkov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said that Fico could pass on a message to Putin from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom the Slovak premier recently met. Putin and Fico also met at a reception in the Kremlin ahead of their talks, but according to Peskov, no message was conveyed there. "Everyone was at the reception, there were not many opportunities," Peskov told reporters. Fico was a sole EU leader to take part in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. However, he didn't attend a military parade held on Moscow's central Red Square. ko