Slovak foreign minister says dialogue with Russia essential for national interests

In a statement released by the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign minister argued that Slovakia must keep channels of communication open with Russia, even though it condemns the war in Ukraine and accuses Moscow of violating international law. He highlighted the intergovernmental commission as an indispensable tool for dialogue that serves Slovakia's national interests. The commission, which focuses on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, is meeting in Moscow for the first time in five years after being inactive since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Topics on the agenda include cooperation in energy, such as supplies of Russian gas, oil and nuclear fuel, as well as the issue of Russian athletes' participation in sports events. The minister's visit has drawn criticism from Slovak opposition figures, who warn that it could amplify Russian intelligence operations within Slovakia and the broader European Union.