According to Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at the European Council Summit (ER), Slovakia did not bring any financial or military aid to Ukraine. At the same time, it considers it a success that the Council acknowledged the reservations and concerns of the Slovak Republic in connection with the stopping of gas through Ukraine. The European Commission, Slovakia and Ukraine must find a solution on this topic. He said this at Friday’s press conference.
“The European Council has acknowledged the legitimacy and merits of our comments and concerns that we are constantly taking, because we know what it causes if the gas does not go through the territory of Slovakia and further to Europe,” Fico said. He added that by the announcement of ER, Slovakia has a political mandate and can thus put eminent pressure towards Ukraine. The Prime Minister also informed that the Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) is negotiating on Friday, which is negotiating there on the possibilities of the transit of Azerbaijan gas through Ukraine.
The Prime Minister described as lies of the statement that Slovakia would help Ukraine financially or militarily. “Show me somewhere where I committed myself yesterday. (…) Neither the euro nor the free charge when it comes to Ukraine,” Fico said. According to him, the government is ready to help Ukraine humanitarian. He is also applying for another joint negotiations with the Ukrainian Cabinet. The Prime Minister believes that this will happen in a short time.
He noted that if the United States refuses to guarantee Europe’s security, the topic is on the table how Member States will do together. He considers that defensive expenses will not be counted as a stability and growth pact. It also appreciates flexibility in the use of Eurofunds and the involvement of the European Investment Bank and the private sector in defense projects.
The leader of the opposition movement PS Michal Šimečka and a member of the PS PS PS Ivan Korčok stated that the Prime Minister at an extraordinary summit did not fight anything for energy security of the Slovak Republic. They claim that this is the result of the Slovak isolation on the European scene.
“This is what Robert Fico is going to sell as a victory today is actually only an embarrassing theater for citizens to create the illusion of a determined warrior in Brussels. In fact, the result of the summit is a terrible disgrace, because the Prime Minister had 26 colleagues put on the paper a homework to finally act“Korčok said.
Together with Šimeček, they noted that this is due to the fact that the Slovak Republic is in isolation for the foreign policy of the government. “EU leaders simply do not want to stand for the prime minister who left the European table to the other side to the Russians and thus pulling Slovakia away from the EU“Korčok said. PS also criticized the next steps of the government in foreign policy.
All 27 European Union leaders agreed on Thursday (March 6) at the Brussels Summit on the final text to strengthen the block defense. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed conclusions concerning the provision of military aid to Ukraine. The proposal of a statement supported by the remaining 26 EU countries, including Slovakia, confirms the existing EU’s attitude to war in Ukraine, emphasizes the need for a fair and permanent peace and a block’s obligation to continue helping Kiev in all forms, including military support.
