Slovakia’s newly elected Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has announced that the country will no longer provide military aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar stated that the Slovak government no longer believes a military solution is viable and instead urges Kiev to seek peace initiatives with assistance from the European Union.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Blanar emphasized that while Slovakia is committed to continuing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, providing weapons would only prolong the fighting. He stated, “We don’t think that there is a military solution [to the conflict] in Ukraine.” Blanar also pointed out that Slovakia is running out of supplies to provide and needs to prioritize its own security.
Previously, Slovakia had been supplying arms and munitions to Ukrainian forces. However, the new government under Prime Minister Fico has made a clear policy shift, vowing to halt all shipments. Fico has called on the European Union to transform itself from “an arms supplier to a peacemaker.”
In line with this new stance, Blanar stated that it is necessary to initiate peace initiatives at the EU level and seek to restart negotiations between Kiev and Moscow. Talks between the two sides had taken place early in the conflict but broke down and have not resumed. Blanar also mentioned that the government would support peace proposals from other nations, including Ukraine, China, and Brazil.
Prime Minister Fico has attributed the conflict in Ukraine to the attacks of “Ukrainian fascists on the civilian population of Russian nationality.” He refers to Kiev’s so-called “anti-terrorist operation” in the Donbass region, which began in 2014. Fico has vowed to oppose any new sanctions on Russia that could harm Slovakia’s interests, stating that his country has bigger problems to address.
The decision by Slovakia to halt military aid comes at a crucial time as Ukrainian forces have been struggling to break through heavy Russian defenses since launching a major counteroffensive in June. As the conflict continues, some Western capitals, including the US and certain European lawmakers, have become increasingly reluctant to approve expensive arms packages for Ukraine.
Slovakia’s shift in policy raises questions about the effectiveness and sustainability of relying on foreign military support in the conflict. It also highlights the need for diplomatic efforts and peace initiatives to bring an end to the fighting and ensure a stable and secure future for Ukraine.
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