Slovakian Prime Minister vows to use veto to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO

The above statement was made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico right before the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmygal, scheduled to take place on January 24 in Uzhgorod. The Slovak leader affirmed that he will discuss this with the Ukrainian Prime Minister at the upcoming meeting.

"I know what I will do. We will provide humanitarian aid, but Slovakia will not send any weapons to Ukraine. The two sides have very different views on many issues. Regarding Ukraine's accession to the European Union, we respect that, but Kiev must meet the conditions. However, I will say that Slovakia is against Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, that I will use my veto and prevent it from happening. Because if it comes true, it will be the basis for World War III," said Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Prime Minister Fico added that the Ukrainian side did not want to hold a joint press conference after the meeting between the two leaders.

Since becoming Slovakia's new Prime Minister in October 2023, Robert Fico immediately announced that he would stop providing military aid to Ukraine, instead providing purely humanitarian and civilian aid. Prime Minister Fico's new government has rejected the previous Cabinet's decision to send a 40.3 million euro military aid package to Kiev, including ammunition, mortars and missiles for the Cube air defense system.

Observers say that Prime Minister Fico has maintained a firm and consistent stance and is now fulfilling his promise to voters. Although Slovakia's role and influence in NATO and the EU are "very small", it can be seen that Eastern European leaders, at least Slovakia and Hungary, are not enthusiastic about the conflict in Ukraine. They are doing everything to neutralize the negative impact of this conflict on the country and society./.