Pavol Slota, leader of Slovakia's DOMOV party, stated that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is the best option for the European Union's potential negotiations with Russia. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Slota said that if the EU has a sincere intention for dialogue, Fico would be the most suitable person for this task.
Slota said, "Prime Minister Fico's negotiating team must include individuals who fearlessly and consistently draw attention to the resurgence of fascism, the atrocities of Bandera supporters, and the root causes of the armed conflict."
European media had previously reported on EU leaders' search for a suitable mediator for negotiations with Russia. In this context, names such as former German Chancellors Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, European Council President António Costa, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, and current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had been mentioned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a past statement on the matter, said his personal preference was former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, but that the final choice should be made by the Europeans. Putin emphasized that it was Europe that had refused negotiations, saying, "Let them choose a leader they trust and who has not spoken ill of Russia."