Benefits drive action.

The EU and NATO were annoyed, and Ukraine strongly protested, the unexpected visit of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Russia and his talks with President Vladimir Putin.

For the West, traveling to Russia to meet with Putin is considered taboo. However, Fico is not setting a precedent. Shortly after the Ukraine conflict, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visited Russia. Similarly, shortly after assuming the rotating EU presidency for the latter half of this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also visited Russia. More recently, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz initiated a telephone conversation with Putin.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held talks with his host, President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on December 22, 2024.

Not all of the EU and NATO members mentioned above necessarily contradict the EU or NATO's common policy stance on Moscow or support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. However, these countries each have their own ways of ensuring their own interests.

Fico traveled to Russia to meet with Putin shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Slovakia's request to continue allowing Russian gas to transit through Ukraine. The EU agreed to allow Slovakia to continue importing Russian gas, but Zelensky disagreed. While Kyiv wasn't ready to sacrifice Ukraine's interests for Slovakia's sake, Fico also wasn't willing to sacrifice Slovakia's interests for Ukraine's. The difference lies in the fact that both Ukraine and the EU would be disadvantaged by Fico allowing Slovakia's interests to dictate policy and actions. Fico couldn't act differently because Slovakia is entirely dependent on Russian gas supplies and receives preferential pricing from Moscow while still lacking alternative sources.

Ukraine criticizes NATO members over Russian gas.

It is clear that the longer the Ukraine conflict drags on, the stronger the friction and conflict of interests among Western countries will become. Therefore, the likelihood of EU and NATO members "breaking the rules" to forge their own paths in relations with Russia will increase. Mr. Fico is just further evidence, not the final one.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loi-ich-dan-dat-hanh-dong-185241224223629948.htm