Fico offers Slovakia's 'hospitality' in possible Ukraine-Russia talks

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he has offered his country as a meeting place for possible talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

"If anyone turns to us and is interested in organizing peace talks in Slovakia about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, they can count on our hospitality," Fico said in a video message published on Facebook late Friday.

He said he had discussed the proposal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent surprise visit to Moscow and was pleased with the positive reaction.

Putin had already said on Friday that Fico had offered his country as a platform during his visit to Moscow and welcomed this initiative.

The left-wing populist Fico repeatedly attracts attention through public criticism of the West's policy towards Ukraine. His trip to Putin has drawn fierce criticism from the EU and Ukraine.

Fico threatens to cut off electricity to Ukraine

Fico combined his offer to mediate in Russia's invasion of Ukraine with a threat against Kiev. If Ukraine stops the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia as planned on January 1, then "adequate countermeasures" will be taken, Fico warned.

"If it is unavoidable, we will cut off the electricity supplies that Ukraine urgently needs when it has supply bottlenecks," he said.

Kiev has vowed to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory January 1, which has angered Slovakia.

Ukraine will lose the transit fees, which were still being paid despite the fighting. But it wants to deprive Russia of the opportunity to earn money for its warfare by exporting gas to Europe.