Slovakia to revive economic cooperation forum with Russia after five-year hiatus

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on October 14, 2026, that Slovakia will resume its joint economic commission with Russia on November 25, 2026, ending a hiatus in place since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Fico defended the step alongside upcoming November 5 talks with Ukraine in Lviv as part of his foreign policy toward all four cardinal directions, even as EU officials and Slovak opposition figures criticize the outreach to sanctioned Russian officials.

Slovakia-Russia economic commission revival

• ▪The joint Slovak-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, covering economic, scientific, and technical cooperation, was suspended after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, having last met in November 2021.
• ▪Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and Russian Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov held an online preparatory call on August 20, 2026, to discuss reopening the Slovak-Russian Intergovernmental Commission.
• ▪A September 10, 2026 Russian government document indicated the Slovak-Russian economic commission meeting agenda will cover Russian gas, oil, nuclear fuel, culture, agriculture, and the treatment of Russian athletes.
• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on October 14, 2026, that Slovakia will resume the work of its joint economic commission with Russia, with a meeting scheduled for November 25, 2026.

Fico's Russia-friendly foreign policy

• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico framed Bratislava's renewed outreach to both Moscow and Kyiv as part of Slovakia's foreign policy toward all four cardinal directions.
• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to restore the joint economic commission during Fico's May 2025 visit to Moscow for Victory Day commemorations.
• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has consistently criticized European Union energy sanctions against Russia and eliminated official Slovak military aid deliveries to Ukraine from state army stocks.

Slovakia-Ukraine bilateral talks

• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced intergovernmental talks between Slovakia and Ukraine to be held in Lviv, Ukraine, on November 5, 2026.
• ▪Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia will not block a new European Union loan for Ukraine but will refuse to provide financial guarantees for it.
• ▪The upcoming November 5, 2026 Slovak-Ukrainian intergovernmental meeting in Lviv will focus on border crossing reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and establishing a school for Ukrainian children in Bratislava.

EU response to Slovakia-Russia engagement

• ▪European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas insisted that international pressure should focus on forcing Russia to end its war of aggression rather than forcing Ukraine to accept Russian demands.
• ▪Slovak opposition politicians criticized Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár's preparatory talks with Russian Science Minister Valery Falkov because Falkov is under European Union sanctions while Russia continues strikes on Ukraine.
• ▪European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Russia miscalculated by attempting to bypass European nations to force Ukraine into surrender through direct deals with Washington.

Russian energy supplies

• ▪During an August 20, 2026 video call with Russian officials, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár stated Slovakia's opposition to the European Union's planned phaseout of Russian gas imports.
• ▪Slovakia remains heavily dependent on Russian energy, relying on Russian gas imports, crude oil delivered through the Druzhba pipeline, and regular nuclear fuel shipments for domestic power plants.

Western sanctions on Russia

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv will continue drone strikes on Russian oil refineries despite pressure from the U.S. and disruptions to intelligence sharing and Starlink signals.
• ▪European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas described a diesel arrangement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a gift to Moscow that fails to curb Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
• ▪Ukrainian military strikes have disabled 51 percent of Russia's total oil-refining capacity, according to statement figures from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.