Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared his intention to block Ukraine from joining NATO as long as he remains in office, according to a report by Politico on 6 October. This stance contrasts sharply with the position of NATO’s leadership, which aims to include Ukraine in the alliance after the end of its war with Russia.
On Slovak TV, Fico stated,
“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’s joining NATO.”
Fico’s declaration stands in opposition to the recent statement by NATO’s new Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said on 3 October,
“Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and will continue on this path until you become a member of our alliance.”
Since his reelection last fall, Fico has reversed Slovakia’s previous policy of providing material support to Ukraine in its war against Russian invasion. He has promised that his government will send “not another bullet” to Ukraine and has instead sought to improve relations with Moscow, aligning with the approach of Hungaria’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
On 3 October, Fico pledged to “do everything possible for the renewal of economic and standard relations with Russia.” He further emphasized this stance on 6 October by proposing to visit Moscow next May for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, “as long as I’m invited.”
Pro-Russian Robert Fico won Slovakia’s parliamentary elections last fall, repeatedly promising to halt weapons supplies to Ukraine. Fico has so far stopped his country’s military support to Ukraine and opposes Ukraine’s NATO accession.
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