Slovakia will not participate in any European Union (EU) program aimed at financing military aid to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday, Reuters reported.
Slovakia suspended state military aid to Ukraine when Fico's government came to power in 2023, but continued to allow commercial arms sales. Fico has taken a different stance on the war than most EU countries, arguing that the solution does not lie on the battlefield.
EU leaders agreed on Thursday to help Ukraine meet "urgent financial needs" over the next two years, but postponed a decision on using frozen Russian assets to finance a 140 billion euro loan for Kiev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the money could be used immediately to strengthen air defense, aviation and frontline positions.
"I refuse to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial scheme aimed at helping Ukraine finance the war and military costs," Fico said in a televised press conference.
Risk of sanctions
Fico also criticized EU sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, arguing that they harm Europe more than Russia.
Slovakia and Hungary, which are buyers of Russian energy, are now facing challenges due to US sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which are set to take effect next month.
Asked today about these risks, Fico said that the Slovak refinery Slovnaft is part of the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL and is not itself a buyer of oil.
"We don't look at it that way right now," Fico said in his first comments since the United States announced sanctions last week.
On Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Hungary is working to find a way to circumvent US sanctions.
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