Fico’s Controversial Moscow Visit: Putin’s Advisor Denies Invitation, Russia Turns Him Into a Martyr

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is scheduled to visit Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations on May 9, 2026, but the Kremlin has denied extending formal invitations to foreign leaders for the event. The discrepancy between the Slovak government’s narrative and the statements from Russian officials has highlighted the diplomatic isolation of the Russian Federation and the specific political positioning of the Slovak administration.

Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy advisor to President Vladimir Putin, stated that Russia did not invite any foreign dignitaries to the Victory Day festivities. According to Ushakov, the visit by the Slovak Prime Minister was not the result of a Kremlin initiative, but rather a request made by Fico himself.

The denial from the Kremlin contradicts earlier assertions from Bratislava, where Prime Minister Fico indicated that he would meet with Vladimir Putin during his stay in the Russian capital. The conflicting accounts suggest a diplomatic effort to frame the visit as a voluntary gesture of friendship from Slovakia rather than a coordinated diplomatic summit hosted by Russia.

Victory Day, observed annually on May 9 to commemorate the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, has historically served as a major showcase of Russian military power and international influence. However, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the event has seen a sharp decline in attendance from Western and European leaders.

Reports regarding the 2026 guest list describe the attendance as sparse. The absence of broad international representation has led observers to characterize the list of foreign attendees as minimal, consisting primarily of leaders from a small number of allied states and non-Western nations that have maintained neutral or supportive stances toward the Kremlin.

The visit by Robert Fico is particularly significant given Slovakia’s membership in the European Union and NATO. Since returning to power, Fico has shifted Slovakia’s foreign policy toward a more neutral stance regarding the conflict in Ukraine, specifically by ending state military aid to Kyiv and criticizing certain sanctions imposed by the West on Russia.

Russian state narratives have begun to frame Fico’s decision to visit Moscow as an act of political courage. By positioning the Slovak Prime Minister as a leader willing to defy Western diplomatic pressure, the Kremlin is attempting to cast him in the role of a martyr for sovereignty and independent foreign policy within the European Union.

This framing serves a dual purpose for the Russian administration. First, it provides a visible example of a European leader breaking the consensus of isolation surrounding the Kremlin. Second, it allows Russia to claim that its diplomatic outreach is still viable within the EU, even if the initiative for such contact originates from the visiting party rather than the host.

The logistical and diplomatic arrangements for Fico’s trip have been described as complex. While the Slovak Prime Minister remains insistent on the importance of the meeting with Putin, the public denial of an invitation by Yuri Ushakov suggests that the Kremlin is cautious about how the visit is perceived internationally. By claiming Fico wanted to come on his own, the Russian government avoids the appearance of actively recruiting EU leaders to attend a parade that is widely condemned by the West.

The tension surrounding the visit reflects a broader trend in Central European politics, where internal shifts in government are altering the regional approach to security and diplomacy. Slovakia’s current trajectory under Fico represents a departure from the previous administration’s alignment with the strict containment policies of the United States and the European Commission.

As the May 9 celebrations approach, the focus remains on whether the meeting between Fico and Putin will result in any formal agreements or if the visit will remain a symbolic gesture intended to signal Slovakia’s divergence from its allies.