Fico criticises EU role in peace efforts, offers Slovakia as a talks venue
Slovakia’s prime minister said the EU lacked political leadership. Meanwhile, the US reported discussions on Ukraine’s security with European partners in Brussels.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, visiting Ukraine, criticised what he described as the European Union’s insufficient role in international politics and efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. European Pravda, citing Slovak outlet Denník N, reported his remarks at a joint press conference with Ukraine’s prime minister on 5 November 2026.
Fico said the EU appeared to lack political leadership. “I am incredibly sorry that the European Union plays such an insignificant role in international politics,” the outlet quoted him as saying. He also questioned the bloc’s ability to join an initiative that would help end the war.
The Slovak prime minister renewed his offer to host lower-level peace talks in his country. According to European Pravda, he assured his Ukrainian counterpart that Kyiv could ask for a meeting venue “even if it were at three in the morning”. This was an offer to host talks, not an announcement of a meeting in Slovakia.
Meanwhile, statements by American participants in the diplomatic process describe contacts with the European side. In a post on X, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff announced working-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the US, in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November. He listed post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps towards peace as topics.
In the same post, Witkoff announced separate consultations in Brussels between American negotiators and representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU and NATO. Their agenda covered security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s post-war security architecture and economic opportunities to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Later, in an X post dated 5 November, Jared Kushner said the Brussels discussions had taken place: according to him, the US held them with Ukraine, NATO and European partners. He identified two interconnected topics — security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture — and confirmed plans for trilateral discussions with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi the following week.
Fico’s criticism thus concerns the EU’s political weight and leadership, while the American side reports European partners’ participation in security consultations. The Brussels discussions and the planned Abu Dhabi negotiations are distinct stages: as of the morning of 6 November, the latter remain announced rather than completed.
Primary sources
Documents and statements this story is based on.
