European officials slammed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for his decision to travel to Moscow and attend the Russia’s Victory Day commemorations on May 9, the only European leader to attend.

Tensions between Bratislava and Brussels were already running high over his stance on the war in Ukraine, relations with the Kremlin and his insistence on continuing the imports of Russian gas and oil.

Euractiv reported on May 10 that EU officials were seeking to use “any available leverage” against Fico after he travelled to the Russian capital to attend celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The report said Brussels had warned about shortcomings in Slovakia’s agricultural payments agency, raising the prospect that EU funding for Slovak farmers could be put at risk. The European Commission has previously scrutinised member states over deficiencies in the administration of EU funds, particularly where governance or rule-of-law concerns are involved.

Euractiv also recalled that members of the European Parliament in April called for a mechanism allowing the suspension of EU funding to member states found to be violating the primacy of EU law in ways that could affect management of the bloc’s budget.

Fico’s appearance in Moscow has drawn criticism from several European leaders at a time when the EU continues efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Slovak leader has repeatedly broken with mainstream EU positions on Russia, opposing some military aid initiatives for Kyiv and advocating renewed dialogue with Moscow.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said European leaders intended to address the issue directly with Fico. “We will talk with him about this day in Moscow,” Merz said.

Fico, who returned to office in 2023 after campaigning on a platform critical of military support for Ukraine, was among a small group of European politicians attending the Moscow commemorations. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić also attended the event despite criticism from EU officials.

During the visit, Putin held talks with Fico, according to Russian state media. The Kremlin has sought to use the Victory Day celebrations to demonstrate that Russia retains international partners despite broad Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation.