A Selective List of Western Leaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his New Year’s greetings to a select list of Western state leaders, a notable omission being that of most Western leaders, with the exception of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico.
The Kremlin’s list, published on its official website, also included former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the only other Western leader to receive a personal message from Putin. Although Fico is not officially listed, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitri Peskow confirmed that Putin had personally congratulated him.
The selection of Orbán and Fico as “good” Western partners for Russia is not coincidental. Moscow emphasizes that both countries have maintained a clear stance against “Russophobic politics” setting them apart from many other Western states.
Hungary and Slovakia remain heavily dependent on Russian gas deliveries, which influences their diplomatic positions vis-à-vis Moscow. Orbán and Fico, who have sought dialogue with Putin since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, have criticized the EU’s military aid to Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, even if they have ultimately supported them.
Schröder is the only former Western leader to feature on Putin’s New Year’s list.
Recent diplomatic tensions between Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy illustrate the complexity of the geopolitical situation. A verbal spat erupted when Ukraine refused to extend the gas transit agreement with Russia, which was set to expire at the end of the year. In response, Fico threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine. The demands of Slovakia’s Defense Minister, Robert Kalinak, for Ukraine to make concessions to Russia in order to enable a peace process, were even more drastic. Zelenskyy, in turn, branded Fico as a Kremlin puppet.
These diplomatic differences shed light on the complex relationships between Russia and the West, particularly the self-determined and pragmatic approach of Hungary and Slovakia.
Rather than blindly following Washington’s guidelines, both countries carefully advocate for their citizens’ interests. They pursue a realistic policy that is not driven by Russophobic reflexes, but rather by a balanced and rational relationship with Russia, while still fulfilling their commitments within the EU and NATO.