Pro-Russian stance

Prague halts bilateral meetings with Slovakia

Diplomatic ice age between Slovakia (pictured left, Robert Fico) and the Czech Republic (Prime Minister Fiala, right)(Bild: AP/Petr David Josek)

At its meeting in Prague on Wednesday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's government decided to cancel planned government consultations with the Slovakian cabinet of Russia-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico. This was in response to the Slovakian government's conciliatory rhetoric towards Russia.

"We consider some of their activities to be problematic," said Fiala, explaining the move. Holding the usual meetings is currently "not appropriate".

Diplomatic ice age between Slovakia (pictured left, Robert Fico) and the Czech Republic (Prime Minister Fiala, right)(Bild: AP/Petr David Josek)

"We agreed that we do not consider it appropriate to hold intergovernmental consultations with the government of the Slovak Republic in the coming weeks or months, as we have been considering. We are convinced that this is not necessary now," Fiala announced after the cabinet meeting, adding that the Czech side had already informed the Slovak side about the move.

There are activities (Bratislava's, note) that we consider problematic.

Tschechiens Premier Petr Fiala

"Activities that we consider problematic"
 "We are aware of the close ties between Czech and Slovak society. We will continue our cooperation and are interested in developing relationships and projects," Fiala continued. "However, nothing can hide the fact that there are significant differences of opinion on some foreign policy issues. There are activities (Bratislava's, note) that we consider problematic," explained Fiala.

One of the reasons for the Czech government's approach is, for example, the fact that Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday. Like most EU countries, Prague is taking a clear stance against Russia in the Ukraine war. Fico, who has only been in office for a few months, has led his country on a Russia-friendly course, as has Hungary.

Slovakia reacts indignantly
Fico reacted indignantly to the announcement from Prague. The Czech government had decided to jeopardize Slovak-Czech relations only because it was interested in supporting the war in Ukraine, while the Slovak government was openly talking about peace, Fico countered in a statement on Wednesday evening. According to the Slovakian Prime Minister, the Czech government's move will have no influence on Bratislava's "sovereign foreign policy".

"Dear Prime Minister of the Czech government, Mr. Fiala, the relations between our citizens, the Czechs and the Slovaks, are unique, historically proven," Fico wrote in the statement. The Slovak government will never expose such close Slovak-Czech relations to any threat, he added. Czechs and Slovaks were united in one state during decades of communism before they parted peacefully after the fall of communism in 1993.