Slovakia’s populist leader has pledged to block Ukraine’s NATO membership in a break from the country’s strong support for Kyiv.
Russia-friendly Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico looked to capitalise on public resentment over the instability and economic hardship caused by war during his election campaign and has kept this stance in office.
Slovakia’s previous government consistently supported Kyiv. The central European country, which shares a 60-mile border with Ukraine, played an important role as a transit and repair centre for Western weaponry supplied to Ukraine.
Slovakia has also been contributing approximately 0.6 per cent of GDP in aid. Fico plans to inform his Ukrainian counterpart during their upcoming meeting on January 24 in Uzhhorod that Slovakia opposes Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Fico claims that such membership would result in “nothing other than a basis for World War III.” He said: “I will tell [Shmyhal] that I am against the membership of Ukraine in NATO and that I will veto it.”
Fico argued: “Once a clash happens between Russia and a NATO member state, we will have a world war.”
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to keep supporting Ukraine against Russia’s nearly 2-year-old invasion, announcing a new military aid package that includes a loan to buy larger weapons and a commitment to find ways to manufacture them together.
Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Tusk said they had reached “an understanding” to resolve through talks any differences between their countries over grain shipments and trucking.
Those issues recently soured ties between the neighbours.
