Slovakia offered to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Slovakia has offered to serve as a "platform" for possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, nearly three years after the start of Russian aggression.

- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said they would gladly provide a platform if negotiations take place - Putin told a news conference.

He described the solution as "acceptable", saying: "We are not against it," while also praising Slovakia's "neutral position".

Fico, one of the few European leaders who has remained close to the Kremlin, met with the Russian president in Moscow on December 22.

That visit by a European leader to Moscow, a very rare occurrence, was at odds with the West's policy of isolating Vladimir Putin, which seeks to present a united front in support of Kyiv.

Fico, who has led the government of Slovakia - an EU and NATO member - since autumn 2023, decided to halt all military aid to Ukraine and calls for peace talks.

He accuses Kyiv of jeopardising his country's supply of Russian gas, on which it heavily depends.

The possibility of peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian attack in February 2022, is increasingly being discussed ahead of the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House.

The Republican, who served as US president from 2017 to 2021, has repeatedly promised to establish peace in Ukraine "within 24 hours" and called for an "immediate ceasefire" as well as talks.

But the ambiguity surrounding his plan is causing concern in Ukraine. Struggling on the front lines and heavily dependent on Western aid, Ukraine fears being forced into an unfavourable agreement.

Putin announced that his country would achieve "all (its) goals in Ukraine".

- That is task number one - the Russian president said.

He also warned that his country is ready to use the latest-generation Oreshnik missile again.

- If necessary and if we see that the use of more powerful medium-range weapons is needed, we will certainly use them. But we are in no hurry - Putin added.

The Russian military first used that missile on November 21, and Putin presented the attack as a response to recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil using American and British missiles.

Putin then threatened to directly target countries that arm Kyiv.