Russia conference to open in Košice

March 6^th and 7^th will see a conference focusing on the Ukrainian crisis, being held in Kosice with the organiser saying the goal is to "find a solution so that Putin does not leave the field as a loser." The event to take place in Košice City Hall all has been initiated by head of a group called the German-Russian Forum. Organiser Matthias Platzeck recently said, according to the Sme daily: "we have to find a solution so that Putin does not leave the field as a loser." He added that the territories occupied by separatists will never be a part of Ukraine. Thus, the meeting called "important peace conference" by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico looks to be a gathering of pro-Russian lobbyists. Fico announced the event as an important peace conference of ruling Social Democrats of Germany and Slovakia and convened it at the request of his friend Platzeck, an SPD member without party influence due to his open support to Russia after the annexation of Crimea. Political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov says that Fico has always supported Russia - regardless of whether it was the Russian-Ukrainian gas war or the Russian-Georgian conflict.