The Slovak government cannot prohibit its private arms companies from supplying products to Ukraine. “We joined the European Union because of common values. We also respect the free market. Therefore, it would be hypocritical of us to restrict the activities of defense industry companies," said the country's State Secretary for Defense Igor Meliher in a comment to the European publication Politico.
However, Meliher emphasized that "the majority of military equipment produced in Slovakia is sold not to Ukraine, but to Western partners, who then decide what to do with this equipment".
At the same time, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense assured that "the Slovak government promised its citizens that it would not send a single bullet from state warehouses to Ukraine" and so far "it has kept this promise". He noted that the aid to Ukraine from Slovakia includes non-lethal weapons and energy infrastructure components that are “necessary for the functioning of Ukraine as a state“.
In October 2024, Slovakia refused to provide military assistance to Ukraine from state reserves. Deliveries are carried out by enterprises of the republic on a commercial basis. Slovak companies produce 155-mm ammunition, Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers, as well as electronic warfare and communications equipment.