Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has proposed holding talks on a peaceful settlement of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the territory of his country, Vladimir Putin said.

Separately, FM says Russia is ready to improve ties with Trump's administration if the US shows serious intentions

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to end a conflict he said Russia was determined to bring to a conclusion.

Ukraine offered compensation to Slovakia amid the suspension of Russian gas transit. However, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the proposal, according to the evening address of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Slovakia had offered to be a “platform” for possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, nearly three years since the launch of Moscow’s offensive.

Fico is the third EU leader, after Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, to meet with Putin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. #Euro

President Zelensky's firm stance on stopping cheap Russian gas flow sparks tensions with Slovakia and Hungary. Explore the potential impacts on energy supply.

“While other countries of the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians are continuing to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets wrote on Telegram.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Slovakia had offered to be a "platform" for possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, nearly three years ... that Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico "said that if there are any negotiations ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to Slovakia's proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine. Amid skepticism from central and eastern European EU states about supporting Ukraine, Slovakian Prime Minister Fico offered Slovakia as a negotiation platform,

Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed Slovakia as a suitable location for potential future negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict ... Putin's meeting this week with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.