"Europe is building a new iron curtain." Slovakian PM warns EU

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, criticizing anti-Russian sanctions, said there was interest in building a new Iron Curtain in Europe. As part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Fico laid wreaths on Tuesday at the graves of Red Army soldiers in Michalovce in the east of the country.

"The European Commission is presenting an action plan to permanently halt any energy flow from the Russian Federation to Europe. After all, it is an iron curtain with incredible economic consequences for the entire European Union," Fico said in a speech at the Michalovce military cemetery, where 17,000 Red Army soldiers are buried.

In his opinion, the lack of direct flights to Russia is proof of the existence of the Iron Curtain. "When I flew to Moscow in December last year, I had to fly through Turkey, and I also came back around through Košice. This is an Iron Curtain," he assessed.

Fico stressed that Slovakia rejects the new Iron Curtain, and his opposition will be expressed by his presence in Russia at the celebrations of the anniversary of the end of World War II. "We must take part in such events and present the historical truth," the prime minister noted.

In his opinion, paying tribute to the soldiers of the Red Army has nothing to do with current events. Fico said that when remembering World War II, one cannot be neutral. "You can stand on the side of the victors or on the side of the fascists," he said.

After the ceremony in Michalovce, Slovak media reported that after Bratislava had completed the required formalities, Poland had granted permission for a special plane to fly the Slovak delegation with Prime Minister Fico to Moscow for the ceremony on May 9. (PAP)

Piotr Górecki (PAP)

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