Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico called the prospect of weakening Russia unrealistic, and the decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop the transit of Russian gas causing billions of dollars in damage to the European Union and Slovakia in particular.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent visit to Moscow that his country was prepared to broker peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to end a conflict he said Russia was determined to bring to a conclusion.