Health problems force Slovak prime minister to cancel visit to Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will not travel to Ukraine because of his health condition, Slovakia’s TASR news agency reported today.

The visit had been planned for his participation in the first summit of the Carpathian Integration Initiative. Fico had said a day earlier that he would attend the meeting, which was expected to bring together leaders from several countries in the region.

The summit was expected to include representatives from Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Ukraine.

Fico’s cancellation comes as his government’s policy on the war in Ukraine and its relations with Russia continue to attract attention. Slovakia remains dependent on imports of Russian fuel, while the prime minister has in the past opposed some European Union positions toward Moscow.

Fico has repeatedly called for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine and has voiced opposition to military aid for Kyiv.