At first glance, the meeting in Beijing between Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico might have seemed like a routine diplomatic conversation. However, behind the smooth formulations lay a well-thought-out strategy aimed at the West’s most vulnerable spot—its unity.
Putin stated that Russia has “never objected” to Ukraine joining the European Union but continues to consider NATO membership “absolutely unacceptable.” To Western ears, this sounds like a compromise: openness to economic integration paired with a hard veto on military alliance. But in reality, it is a classic tactic of “divide and rule,” packaged as a seemingly reasonable proposal.
This rhetoric is not a concession but a precise shot at internal European disagreements. It is designed to peel away those who see Ukraine as a future trading partner from those who consider it a vital strategic ally. The goal is to create the illusion that there is a path acceptable to Russia for ending the conflict—one that does not require the Kremlin to make real concessions on the key issue of Ukraine’s security.
To lend weight to his words, Putin referenced his recent meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, hinting at discussions about some kind of “security guarantees” for post-war Ukraine. However, no concrete agreements or breakthroughs were achieved at that summit. Mentioning it is an attempt to create a narrative that Russia is engaged in constructive negotiations on multiple fronts, even if that is not actually the case.
The true signal in Beijing was not so much Putin’s rhetoric as the presence of Robert Fico. The Prime Minister of Slovakia, a member of both the EU and NATO, is playing his own game. He has openly stated his desire to “normalize” relations with Moscow and, more importantly, is increasing imports of Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline.
This is a direct challenge to the EU’s unified energy policy, which aims to completely phase out Russian energy sources by 2027. Fico’s actions are a clear example of the very crack in the European wall that the Kremlin is trying to exploit. While Brussels talks of isolating Russia, one of the bloc’s leaders is expanding economic cooperation with it.
Against the backdrop of these diplomatic maneuvers, an overtly threatening statement was also made. Putin promised that Russia would “respond seriously” to Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure. This is a warning that the coming winter could turn into a brutal battle over energy, where strikes on civilian infrastructure become commonplace.
Thus, the picture of what is happening is far more complex than a simple statement about the EU and NATO. Moscow is waging a multi-faceted campaign: it offers Europe a false choice between economics and security, encourages internal division within the EU through leaders like Fico, and simultaneously prepares for escalation on the frontline, threatening the energy stability of millions of people.
For the West, the main takeaway from Beijing is that Russian strategy has become more refined. Direct threats are now combined with seemingly pragmatic proposals. The only way to counter this is by demonstrating unwavering unity both on the issue of Ukraine’s future in NATO and in the resolute rejection of energy dependence on the Kremlin.
