Slovakia's Blanár meets Lavrov in Moscow, reviving commission despite opposition criticism

A commission revived after five years

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday, 26 October, where he led the Slovak delegation at the 22nd session of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific-technical cooperation. The previous session took place in 2021, and the body had been suspended after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian side was led by Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov. Blanár travelled with business representatives, and Lavrov personally walked him down a red carpet on arrival at Moscow airport, according to Slovak and Czech reporting.

The flight itself was difficult. According to a flight map reported by ABC, Poland did not allow the Slovak government aircraft to cross its airspace, so it had to detour around Polish territory via the Czech Republic, Germany and the Baltic Sea, re-entering Russian airspace near St Petersburg. That route made the journey considerably longer.

Energy at the centre of the talks

Energy supply was one of the main subjects, the Slovak foreign ministry said, and Blanár told Lavrov that dialogue was needed to settle situations arising from EU decisions to phase out Russian energy by the end of 2027. According to the ministry, Lavrov assured him that Russia remained ready to meet the contracts agreed. Slovakia still imports Russian oil and gas, and an EU plan requires it to end gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027. ABC reports that a Russian gas supply contract runs until 2034 and carries take-or-pay terms, which could expose Slovakia to claims above 10 billion euros if supplies were forcibly interrupted. Blanár said Russia was difficult to replace for energy supply stability, a point he linked to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukraine and the peace track

The two ministers also discussed the war in Ukraine. Blanár said both sides agreed that the causes of the conflict had to be understood and that dialogue with all parties had to continue. Lavrov described the meeting as constructive, according to ABC, and accepted Blanár's proposal of preparatory talks at a lower level in Bratislava. ABC reports that Bratislava was also offered as the venue for upcoming Ukraine peace talks. The Russian foreign ministry said the two sides had covered cultural and humanitarian questions and projects commemorating military history.

Opposition fury at home

Opposition politicians in Bratislava responded sharply. Gábor Grendel of the Nova party called the trip an 'international disgrace' and asked what it had given Slovak citizens, adding that it brought no cheaper oil and gas. Ivan Korčok, a former foreign minister from the liberal Freedom and Solidarity party, called Blanár the 'gravedigger of Slovak foreign policy' and claimed the minister planned to seek Russian permission to increase staff at the Slovak embassy in Moscow. The opposition argues that expanding Russian diplomatic staff in Bratislava would open the door to Russian agents. Korčok said opposition parties would submit signatures for a motion to dismiss Blanár in the week of 26 October. Others accused him of treason.

The government line

In a statement issued by the foreign ministry, Blanár justified the revived commission on economic grounds. He said Slovakia would pursue its national state interests and develop cooperation with Russia in areas not affected by EU sanctions, while condemning the war as an unlawful war of aggression. Blanár belongs to Smer-SD, the party of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has repeatedly argued that EU sanctions on gas, oil and uranium hurt Slovakia more than Russia. Slovakia is more dependent on Russian energy than other EU members, and Fico has made several visits to Moscow. ABC reports that neighbouring countries have voiced displeasure within their means, with the airspace refusal by Poland the clearest example.