Slovakia’s Robert Fico has been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of the war in Ukraine and the West’s support for it. Now he insists he will do everything in his power to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
– As long as I am head of the Slovak government, I will direct the MPs that are under my control as chairman of the [ruling Smer] party never to agree to Ukraine joining NATO, he says.
This statement is in sharp contrast to the statement by NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, that“Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and will continue on this path until you become a member of our alliance”.
Mr Fico has also recently pledged to “do everything possible to restore normal relations with Russia” and has said he wants to visit Moscow next year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Last year he also cancelled Slovakia’s military aid to Ukraine and declared that he would not send “a single bullet more”..
Victim of an assassination attempt
The Prime Minister has also strongly criticised Western sanctions against Russia, warning that a third world war could become a reality if hostilities continue.
– The fact is that Ukraine is only being used for geopolitical purposes, to weaken Russia economically and internationally. I fear that for the sake of these geopolitical goals, the West will fight Russia to the last Ukrainian soldier, and we are not far from this goal, he said.
In May, Mr Fico was also the victim of an assassination attempt when he was shot several times while meeting voters in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia. His condition was initially life-threatening, but doctors managed to save his life.
The perpetrator later admitted in court that he had tried to kill Mr Fico because of his opposition to sending arms and other military equipment to Ukraine.
