Russian President Vladimir Putin has largely refrained from sending New Year's greetings to Western leaders, with the exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed today, quoted by DPA, BTA reports.
Among the figures to whom congratulatory telegrams have been sent are former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, as well as Orban. Although the Slovak prime minister is not officially on the list, Putin has sent greetings to him as well, Peskov noted.
According to Russia and Hungary, Slovakia is also refraining from "Russophobic" policies. Both countries are also heavily dependent on Russian gas supplies, DPA notes. Both Orban and Fico visited Moscow after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago, while other Western leaders isolated Russia.
While both leaders criticize European Union arms supplies to Kiev and EU sanctions against Moscow, Orban and Fico largely support EU policies to date.
Recently, Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traded verbal attacks over Ukraine’s decision not to renew a Russian gas transit agreement for Slovakia. In response, Fico threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine.
Yesterday, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said that Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia to ensure peace - an option that Zelensky has repeatedly rejected.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, DPA also notes.