On Sunday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico vowed to block Ukraine's accession to NATO, while he is at the head of the country's government, informed Politico, quoted by BTA.
NATO leadership wants Ukraine to join the military alliance after the end of the war with Russia to prevent future aggression by Moscow. Fico's declaration, however, highlights the political difficulties that are likely to arise in achieving this goal, the publication notes.
"As long as I am at the head of the Slovak government, I will direct the MPs under my control as chairman of the (ruling Smer party) never to agree to Ukraine joining NATO," he stated in the weekly show "5 minutes to 12" of Slovak Radio and Television STVR.
Regarding his position on Ukraine's NATO membership, Fico stressed that it is transparent: "This is something I openly told Prime Minister Shmygal, the Americans and everyone else," quoted his words *Euronews*.
The media recalls that the Slovak prime minister consistently accuses the West and the US of fueling the conflict, placing the blame on Europe. "There is a military conflict in a neighboring country where Slavs are killing each other, and Europe is greatly supporting this killing, which I just don't understand," Fizzo said on Sunday.
Fico's words contrast sharply with the position of new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said on Thursday that "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before and will continue on this path until it becomes a member of our union."
According to NATO's founding treaty of 1949, decisions on enlargement are made "unanimously," meaning Fico's opposition could block Ukraine's membership until at least the end of the Slovak leader's current term in 2027. Other NATO members friendly to Russia could also thwart Ukraine's bid for membership, notes *Politico*.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden and Finland applied to join the alliance, but were blocked by Turkey and Hungary for almost two years. Turkey objected because of Kurdish activists in Sweden and restrictions on arms exports to Ankara, while the reasons for Hungary's opposition were not clearly stated. Finland and Sweden became NATO members in April 2023 and March 2024 respectively.
After his re-election last fall, Fico reversed the previous government's policy on providing aid to Ukraine and instead promised that Slovakia would not send "a single cartridge." He also got closer to Moscow, following the example of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, notes *Politico*.
New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made his first official visit to Ukraine after taking office to reinforce NATO's support for Kiev in the war with Russia, notes the *Associated Press*. During his visit to Kyiv, Rutte met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and emphasized that "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever." Slovak Prime Minister Fico's statement, however, delays – at least for now – Zelensky's aspiration for membership in the alliance.
Rute confirmed NATO's commitment to Ukraine and stated that the alliance will continue to stand by the country, the European Newsroom reported.