Slovakia wants to reactivate the cooperation commission with Russia, suspended after the invasion of Ukraine

Slovakia intends to reactivate the Russian-Slovak Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which was suspended after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The meeting is expected to take place in Moscow on November 25, according to Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The information appears in a document drafted by Russia’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov. The note, dated September 10 and obtained by POLITICO, states that Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, allegedly agreed to organize the meeting during a videoconference on August 20. The document could not be independently verified.

The commission has not met since November 2021. The agenda is expected to include gas and oil deliveries, shipments of nuclear fuel for Slovak power plants, as well as cooperation in culture, tourism, agriculture and environmental protection. Bratislava opposes the phaseout of Russian gas imports and supports maintaining oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.

The resumption of dialogue comes after Fico’s visit to Moscow on May 9, where he met with Vladimir Putin. According to POLITICO, the rapprochement could strengthen the Kremlin’s influence over some EU member states and weaken Europe’s common position on Ukraine. Slovakia’s Foreign Minister says the country maintains a pragmatic dialogue with states that can contribute to its national interests.