This Week in Ukraine: Fico Meets Putin and Clashes with Zelenskyy

Poland’s PM Donald Tusk says he will accelerate discussions on Ukraine's NATO and EU accession during Poland’s upcoming EU Council presidency. However, he poured cold water on the possibility of deploying peacekeeping missions to Ukraine and emphasised Poland's own domestic security concerns. Tusk also delayed key decisions on EU trade terms for Ukraine until after Poland's presidential election in May, walking the tightrope between domestic and regional priorities.

Meanwhile, Slovak PM Robert Fico met Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 22 December, becoming one of the few EU leaders to engage directly with the Russian president since the invasion of Ukraine. The meeting aimed to secure a deal ensuring continued Russian gas supplies through Ukraine, with Slovakia prioritising energy security as the 2025 gas transit deadline looms.

This meeting followed a tense exchange between Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels on 19 December. Fico criticised Ukraine’s plans to end gas transit through its territory, arguing it would harm Slovakia’s economy. Zelenskyy responded sharply: ‘When Slovakia says they can lose money or that it will be expensive to buy non-Russian gas, Ukraine has lost much more – we’re losing people.’

Russian gas dependence remains a contentious issue across the region. EU energy ministers met on 16 December to discuss energy security and reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, but Slovakia and Hungary are negotiating separately to extend Russian gas flows. This defiance highlights their ongoing dependence on Moscow and divergence from broader EU goals.

In Brussels, Zelenskyy used the European Council meeting to push for greater support, focusing on securing Ukraine's energy infrastructure and expanding weapons production. Discussions also touched on Ukraine's EU accession priorities and the €18.1 billion macro-financial assistance package, with the first tranche due in January 2025.

Zelenskyy's appearance followed NATO talks about the potential role of EU soldiers in securing Ukraine in the case of a ceasefire. While European leaders agreed on the importance of stabilising peace, Zelenskyy made it clear that US involvement would remain essential.

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