Slovak PM Fico says he welcomes process started in Alaska talks

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said on Saturday he welcomed the initiative launched by U.S. president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska to work toward ending the war in Ukraine.

“The presidents launched a vital process in Alaska,” Fico said in a recorded statement posted on Facebook. He added that although the talks did not result in an agreement, they opened the door to further discussions that could shape the future of the conflict.

Fico said the EU now faced a choice on whether to back the new process or continue with what he described as an unsuccessful strategy of trying to weaken Russia through extensive financial, political, and military support for Ukraine.

Since returning to office last year, Fico has diverged from most of his EU and NATO partners by refusing to provide official military aid to Kyiv and by travelling to Moscow twice. He has repeatedly argued that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily and that direct negotiations are needed.

The Alaska summit was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump’s return to the White House. While the talks ended without a deal, both leaders described them as “productive” and left open the possibility of future meetings that could include Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Fico’s comments reflect a broader debate within the EU about the bloc’s long-term approach to the conflict. While countries such as Poland and the Baltic states advocate continued military support for Ukraine, others, including Hungary and Slovakia, have called for negotiations and questioned the effectiveness of sanctions.

“The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process,” Fico said.

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