Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán met in Bratislava on Tuesday to discuss the energy crisis threatening Europe, the situation in Ukraine, bilateral relations and regional cooperation. The two leaders described the discussions as friendly and substantive, reaffirming their commitment to defending their sovereignty against the prevailing policies of the EU and NATO.
As reported by Hungarian Conservative, Ukraine halted the transit of Russian natural gas through its territory on 1 January. This decision has significantly impacted both Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakia has suffered substantial losses in transit fees, while Hungary’s energy supply has been severely compromised, now relying solely on the TurkStream pipeline to import Russian gas.
Over the weekend, Orbán also held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring each other’s energy security and safeguarding the TurkStream pipeline, which was targeted by a Ukrainian drone attack last week.
‘Aggressive and hostile statements are coming from Kyiv,’ Orbán stated at the press conference following the talks. He remarked that Ukraine is no longer as securely in control as it once was and suggested that global shifts are working against Kyiv. Orbán also expressed his full support for Fico’s efforts to seek a negotiated solution to the complex issue of gas transit.
‘“Aggressive and hostile statements are coming from Kyiv,” Orbán stated at the press conference’
Orbán emphasized Hungary’s commitment to supporting Slovakia’s energy needs, particularly through expanded pipeline capacity. ‘Hungary’s responsibility towards Slovakia has increased, and we are fully aware of this. We will deliver on it,’ said the prime minister, assuring his Slovak counterpart of Hungary’s reliability as a partner.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Fico have engaged in a public war of words, with the Slovak PM emerging as public enemy number one in Ukraine—a role previously occupied by Viktor Orbán (behind Vladimir Putin, of course). With his own experience of being cast in this position, Orbán is well-equipped to offer his Slovak counterpart advice.
Regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership, Orbán stated that it is not on the agenda and never will be, as unanimous support for such a move will never materialize. He warned that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would lead to an immediate, direct, and total war with Russia—a scenario Hungary is determined to avoid.
On the topic of Ukraine’s potential EU membership, Orbán asserted that admitting Ukraine to the bloc at present would devastate Hungary. ‘The EU has no funds to support Ukraine’s accession, and we do not wish to destroy our own country,’ he added.
Fico told the press that significant and dynamic changes are unfolding, and the European Union is facing major challenges. He highlighted that it is their responsibility to ensure their countries are thoroughly prepared for these developments.
He reaffirmed Slovakia’s commitment to maintaining a sovereign foreign policy, which, while respecting EU and NATO membership, will also prioritize fostering relations with other nations, particularly those with a shared interest in good diplomatic ties.
‘Fico vowed to consistently recommend to the Slovak parliament that they never approve Ukraine’s membership in NATO’
Fico stated that Slovakia supports Ukraine’s potential membership in the EU, provided the necessary conditions are met. However, he firmly rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. He explained that Slovakia sees no reason to alter its position on this matter, as NATO membership for Ukraine would undermine peace initiatives and pose a significant security threat, including the potential risk of World War III. As prime minister, he vowed to consistently recommend to the Slovak parliament that they never approve Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
The meeting also underscored the strengthening ties between Hungary and Slovakia. Prime Minister Orbán reflected on the growing bilateral relationship, stating: ‘The Hungarian-Slovak relationship has not been this strong in years, whether in strategic partnership or trade.’ He highlighted Slovakia’s new role as Hungary’s second-largest trading partner, surpassing Austria, Poland, and Romania. ‘This is a fantastic achievement for our economic cooperation,’ said the prime minister, crediting joint efforts such as infrastructure improvements, border crossings, and expanded gas pipeline capacities.
At the end of the press conference, the Hungarian PM extended an invitation to his Slovak counterpart for a visit to Hungary.
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