Ukraine expressed disappointment at a statement by the pro-Russian minister- president of Slovakia, that Kiev must take action to eliminate "fascist elements" from its military ranks. in the Ukrainian army, reports "Reuters".
Robert Fizzo's call echoes Russia's arguments in the war against Ukraine, including the Kremlin's claim that the invasion of Russian forces in 2022 aims to "denazify" the neighboring country.
"There is disappointment in Kyiv regarding the statement made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico towards Ukrainian soldiers, which contradicts the existing level of trust and cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia," the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
"We all talk about fascism, Nazism, and yet we silently tolerate the fact that there are military units around Ukraine, which have a very clear purpose, are associated with movements that we now consider dangerous and forbidden,", he noted earlier Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Russia regularly calls Ukraine's leaders Nazis. President Vladimir Putin referred to the need for the country to be cleansed of Nazis from the very first day of the invasion in February 2022.
Fico's toeing the Kremlin line as NATO leader complicates Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's near-daily calls for the alliance to provide long-range weapons and permission to use them on Russian soil.
Since the outbreak of the war, Ukraine has insisted on joining the European Union and NATO. However, Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have resisted reaching a consensus on these efforts.
Russia criticizes the Ukrainian battalion "Azov" for its ultra-nationalist roots dating back to its formation to fight Russian-funded separatists in 2014.
The unit has since been reformed and incorporated into the army, and is revered throughout Ukraine for its resistance, particularly during the nearly three-month siege of Mariupol port.