Posted by AI on 2025-09-02 20:33:36 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-03 01:15:51
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Russian President Putin asks Slovakia to cut off Ukraine's energy supplies as Russia works to protect its interests in the post-Soviet space amid Western and NATO efforts to expand their influence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has never been against Ukraine joining the European Union (EU), he said during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in China on Wednesday. However, he insisted that Ukraine's potential entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is unacceptable, stating that it goes against Russia's interests.
Putin also asked Fico to "cut off Ukraine's energy supplies," claiming that Russia aims to protect its legitimate interests amid Western and NATO efforts to expand influence in the post-Soviet space. This statement comes after Slovakia, a country that relies on Russia for natural gas, recently rejected a proposal to build a nuclear power plant backed by Moscow.
Fico, for his part, emphasized the need to respect the decision of the Ukrainian people regarding their future orientation, referring to the country's ongoing EU accession process and NATO aspirations. According to officials, the talks also focused on cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the possibility of creating a tripartite partnership between Slovakia, the EAEU, and China.
It is worth noting that Ukraine has been at the center of tensions between Russia and the West, which have been escalating due to Moscow's invasion of its neighbor. It remains to be seen how the latest developments will affect Ukraine's EU accession process and NATO aspirations, as well as the broader geopolitical dynamics at play.
As Putin's agenda continues to be a topic of much discussion, these comments shed light on Russia's stance on Ukraine's political future and its attempts to counter the West's influence in the region.