Slovakia will not participate in any European Union program aimed at financing military aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico said today, quoted by Reuters, writes BTA.
The agency notes that after taking power in 2023, the current Slovak government stopped Bratislava's gratuitous military aid to Kiev, leaving only the possibility of commercial arms deals.
Unlike almost all other leaders of EU countries, the prime ministers of Slovakia and neighboring Hungary, Robert Fico and Viktor Orban, say that the solution to the conflict is not on the battlefield.
A few days ago, European leaders agreed to respond to the "urgent situation" in Ukraine and its financial needs over the next two years. However, they postponed a decision on using Russian frozen assets to help Kiev through a loan worth 140 million euros.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the money could be used immediately to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, air force and frontline positions.
"I refuse to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial schemes aimed at helping Ukraine manage the war and its military spending," Fico said.
He also criticized EU sanctions against Russia, saying they were more harmful to Europe itself.
Slovakia and Hungary, which continue to buy Russian oil, now face challenges related to US sanctions against Rosneft and "Lukoil", which are due to come into force next month.
Asked about these risks, Fico said that the Slovak refinery "Slovnaft" is part of the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL, and not a buyer of oil.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said a few days ago that Hungary was working to find a way to circumvent the US sanctions.