A war of words between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas following his controversial decision to travel to Moscow for the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 escalated after Fico sent Kallas a scathing letter following his trip.

The letter read:

DEAR MRS. HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EU FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, KAJA KALLAS

Dear Kaja,

Once again I have taken note of your statements directed at me in connection with today’s visit to Moscow and the announced meeting not only with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. You claim that I am supposedly not on the right side of history, or make other similarly profound geopolitical remarks.

First, I am in Moscow to pay tribute to more than 60,000 soldiers of the Red Army who died while liberating Slovakia. I do not see what these brave individuals have to do with the current international situation.

Second, as a high-ranking official of the European Commission, you have absolutely no authority to criticise the sovereign Prime Minister of a sovereign country who approaches all European matters constructively.

Third, I disagree with the policy of a new Iron Curtain, which you are working on so intensively.

Fourth, I ask you: how can diplomacy and foreign policy be conducted if politicians are not supposed to meet and engage in normal dialogue on issues where they hold differing views?

Respectfully,
Robert Fico

The EU has banned all its members from attending public events in Russia and Kallas has been outspoken in her condemnation of Fico’s decision to defy the ban.

Fico remains on good terms with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovakia remains heavily dependent on Russian gas imports. Fico was joined by Serbian President Aleksander Vucic in his decision to attend the annual military parade, as Serbia, an EU candidate country, is also heavily dependent on Russian gas imports. No other EU high officials decided to attend the event.

Fico has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of the EU’s plan to continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban intends to veto plans to accelerate Ukraine’s accession into the EU.

The clash between those in the EU that object to continued support for Ukraine is likely to come to a head at a Nato summit scheduled for June and the next EU summit in July, where a decision on speeding up Ukraine’s membership is on the docket.

Fico says that Kallas has overstepped her authority and contributed to what he described as a "new Iron Curtain" in Europe. Kallas heavily criticised Fico with remarks ahead of the parade, escalating tensions between Bratislava and Brussels. The very public row highlights that the EU is under enormous pressure over its resolve to continue support for Ukraine now the Trump administration is pulling back, and fractures in the previous unity on supporting Ukraine are turning into fissures.

Kallas has not issued a direct response to Fico’s letter but reiterated in separate remarks that European leaders should "stand firm in isolating the aggressor," referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have been among the strongest supporters of Ukraine within the EU and Nato.

Fico, elected for a fourth term in October 2023, has frequently criticised EU sanctions on Russia and questioned the military support given to Ukraine. His government has shifted Slovakia’s foreign policy stance, drawing concern from both Brussels and Kyiv over its alignment with pro-Russian narratives.

Despite EU pressure, the Slovak delegation’s appearance in Moscow marks the first time an EU head of government has attended the Victory Day parade since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

“This visit is about memory and respect, not politics,” Fico stated in an interview with Slovak media on May 9.