Putin: Slovakia has offered to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Putin said Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico "has said that if there are any negotiations, they will gladly provide their country as a platform."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Slovakia had offered to be a "platform" for possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, AFP reported.
Putin said Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico "has said that if there are any negotiations, they will gladly provide their country as a platform."
He added that Russia was "not against it", praising Slovakia's "neutral position".
Fico, one of the few European leaders who maintain ties with the Kremlin, met the Russian president in Moscow on 22 December.
His visit took place despite Western efforts to isolate Putin and present a united front in support of Kiev.
Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, has already suspended military aid to Ukraine from autumn 2023 under the Fico government and called for peace talks.
The Slovak prime minister accused Kiev of threatening his country's supply of Russian natural gas, on which it is heavily dependent.
Ukraine has said it will not renew a contract expiring at the end of this year to transit Russian gas through the country to Europe and a suitable alternative has not yet been found.
The Ukrainians "are already punishing Europe by terminating the contract for the supply of our gas," Putin said, adding that a new contract could not be reached "in three or four days."
However, he hinted that he was ready to supply the EU with gas, possibly via the Yamal-Europe pipeline that runs through Poland. | BGNES