EditUzhgorod meeting fallout: Fico softens stance on Ukraine, leaving Orbán isolated
The Slovak PM softened his rhetoric during talks with Zelenskyy, in a move that may reshape regional dynamics and strain his coalition at home
“Slovakia and Ukraine may have different views, but our relations are destined to improve… Friendly neighbourly relations, a just peace, the earliest possible ceasefire, and a European perspective – these four elements should define our ties,” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared on 5 September in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
The meeting marked Fico’s first official encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, beyond brief exchanges at EU events. Until now, he had limited his contacts to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, signalling an interest in economic matters while avoiding the political symbolism of engaging directly with Zelenskyy.
That alone made the Uzhhorod meeting unusual. But what unfolded was even more striking: instead of exerting pressure on Ukraine, Fico was forced to shift his tone dramatically, to the point of angering partners in his own governing coalition.
A difficult partner
Fico has never been considered a friend of Ukraine. His return to power two years ago was widely seen as a challenge for Kyiv. During his election campaign, he promised to halt military support for Ukraine. Since then, he has repeatedly made unfriendly statements, even becoming the only EU leader to attend Moscow’s 9 May military parade this year.
Yet despite an electorate with strong anti-Western and pro-Russian leanings, Fico did not become “a second Orbán”. His government maintained defence cooperation with Ukraine, refrained from blocking EU sanctions against Russia, and expressed support for Kyiv’s EU membership bid.
The real crisis began earlier this year when Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas across its territory. Fico reacted angrily, complaining to Brussels and hinting at cutting electricity supplies in response. Tensions deepened after EU plans to phase out Russian energy imports and Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline temporarily stopped deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. Both Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lodged complaints with the European Commission.
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In this context, Bratislava unexpectedly accepted Zelenskyy’s invitation for direct talks. At first, the move seemed designed to increase pressure on Kyiv rather than reset relations.
Only days before travelling to Uzhhorod, Fico had visited China for the commemoration of Japan’s surrender in 1945, where he again met Vladimir Putin. Earlier contacts with the Kremlin leader had provoked controversy at home. This time, Fico could present himself as a “balancer” – engaging not only with Putin but also with Zelenskyy. Moreover, he hinted that he might bring “messages” from Moscow.
Putin, for his part, advised Slovakia to consider energy pressure on Ukraine, suggesting that cutting reverse gas flows and electricity supplies would force Kyiv into concessions. Fico appeared ready to use this as leverage.
A sudden reversal
The balance of power shifted abruptly on 4 September. During a Paris meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, European leaders held a call with US President Donald Trump. According to leaks, Trump demanded that Europe stop buying Russian oil, singling out Slovakia and Hungary. Zelenskyy later confirmed Trump’s displeasure, describing it as a clear warning.
This left Orbán and Fico in a vulnerable position. Orbán had previously written to Trump to complain about Ukrainian strikes on Druzhba, but the US president instead signalled frustration with EU states still importing Russian oil.
Adding weight, European Council President António Costa joined Zelenskyy in Uzhhorod. His presence underscored that Fico’s meeting was not just bilateral, but also about conveying a broader shift in Western expectations.
Under this pressure, Fico adjusted his stance. He denied reports that Putin had urged him to impose an energy blockade, avoided clashes over Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure, and even acknowledged Slovakia’s readiness to share its EU accession experience with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said the two leaders also discussed security guarantees, with Slovakia showing openness to joining efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience, including building shelters.
Perhaps most significantly, Fico stated publicly that Slovakia’s minority in Ukraine does not face discrimination – directly undermining Orbán’s long-standing accusations against Kyiv regarding Hungary’s minority community.
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Backlash at home
This rhetorical shift was immediately noticed in Bratislava. The opposition party Progressive Slovakia criticised Fico for still failing to explicitly condemn Russia’s aggression or affirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Former foreign minister Ivan Korčok called it “a shameful display of weakness”.
Meanwhile, Fico’s coalition partners in the Slovak National Party (SNP) expressed open dissatisfaction, pledging to demand clarifications at the next coalition council. They insisted that Fico should have pressed Zelenskyy to stop any strikes on Druzhba.
Such divisions come at a time when polls suggest Fico’s hold on power is fragile. By moving closer to Zelenskyy and aligning with EU partners, he risks alienating parts of his coalition. Yet Fico may consider this “the lesser evil,” given that unlike Orbán, he lacks strong ties to Trump and could otherwise become an easy target for Washington’s criticism.
While Orbán continues to insist that Hungary cannot cut Russian oil imports, he now finds himself increasingly isolated. Without Slovakia as an ally and without Trump’s backing Budapest faces a tougher task resisting EU pressure.
Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó responded defiantly, accusing critics of hypocrisy for indirectly importing Russian oil via Asian intermediaries. Still, the reality is that Orbán is now left without partners in his opposition to EU energy policy.
The Uzhhorod meeting thus reshaped the dynamics not only between Slovakia and Ukraine, but also within Central Europe. By stepping back from Orbán’s anti-Ukraine line, Fico may have secured room to manoeuvre with both Brussels and Washington – at the cost of tensions within his own coalition.
The full article (in Ukrainian) is available here.
Caption: A handout photo made available by the Presidential Press Service of Ukraine shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) shaking hands during their meeting in the Transcarpathian city of Uzhhorod, Western Ukraine, 5 September 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. EPA/PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
Updated: September 9, 2025 - 05:49
