Slovakia is preparing to revive a frozen mechanism for cooperation with Russia, with energy supplies, nuclear fuel and the treatment of Russian athletes in international competitions expected to feature prominently on the agenda of a meeting planned for November.
The plans are outlined in a Russian government document obtained by Politico. According to the document, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár agreed during a video call on August 20 to hold a meeting of the Russian-Slovak Intergovernmental Commission in Moscow.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday that the meeting was scheduled for November 25. A Russian document dated September 10 had initially listed October 26 and 27 as possible dates.
The commission, which oversees economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries, has not met since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its last meeting took place in Bratislava on November 12, 2021.
The planned resumption of contacts comes as Moscow seeks to strengthen its international partnerships. The United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit scheduled to take place in Miami in December. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and called on sports organizations to ease restrictions on Russian athletes.
Asked by Politico about the meeting’s agenda, Slovakia’s Foreign Ministry referred to Blanár’s previous statements. Following the August call, the minister said Slovakia pursued cooperation in all directions and maintained dialogue with countries interested in pragmatic relations that served Slovak national interests. Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to the publication’s request for comment.
The renewed engagement follows Fico’s visit to Russia on May 9, when he met Putin during Victory Day commemorations. Russia has also been seeking alternative partners in the European Union following Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary’s April election, according to the report.
Several months before the election, Orbán had restored the activities of the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, which had been suspended after the invasion of Ukraine. The government of his successor, Péter Magyar, has not confirmed to Politico whether the commission will meet next year.
According to the Russian document, Blanár expressed opposition during the August call to the EU’s plan to phase out Russian gas imports and requested that energy supplies be discussed at the Moscow meeting.
Slovak representatives also stressed the importance of continuing Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline and maintaining regular shipments of nuclear fuel for Slovakia’s power plants.
Politico said it had been unable to independently verify the authenticity of the document, although it contained features consistent with an official ministerial record.
Slovakia remains heavily dependent on Russian energy. Fico has argued that ending imports would increase costs. During their meeting in Moscow in May, Putin promised that Russia would do everything possible to meet Slovakia’s energy needs.
The proposed agenda extends beyond energy. The two sides are expected to discuss working groups on culture, tourism, agriculture and environmental protection, as well as the status of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Bratislava.
The document also says Blanár opposes what the Russian side describes as “discrimination against Russian athletes” in international competitions.
In July, the International Olympic Committee lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, while World Archery eased restrictions on Russian athletes and officials in August. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also called for Russia’s return to international football.
Slovakia’s renewed engagement with Moscow recalls Russia’s efforts to expand cooperation with Hungary. In December, Budapest and Moscow agreed on a 12-point plan to deepen cooperation in energy, trade and culture.
The developments highlight how energy ties may provide Moscow with opportunities to strengthen relations with some EU member states, potentially complicating efforts to maintain a common European approach to Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, it remains unclear whether Russia will be able to deliver on promises to increase energy supplies.
Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in an effort to disrupt fuel supplies and reduce revenues used to finance the war. Kyiv said this month that the strikes had put 51 percent of Russia’s oil-refining capacity out of operation, a claim that has not been independently verified in the information provided.
