Health fallout from shooting forces Slovak PM to skip EU talks

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will not attend the European Union summit in Copenhagen due to health issues stemming from the 2024 assassination attempt that left him critically injured, his office announced.

"The prime minister apologised for not attending... due to aggravated health problems related to the assassination attempt," the government office stated, Reuters reports.

Fico was shot four times at close range in the abdomen in May 2024, an attack that put him in critical condition and required multiple surgeries. He returned to his official duties only months after the incident, which shocked Slovakia and drew international condemnation.

The EU summit in Copenhagen is focused on defence cooperation, including proposals for a European "drone wall" to guard against hybrid threats, as well as the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine amid the ongoing war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Fico, however, has consistently taken a contrarian stance on EU support for Kyiv. He has opposed further military aid to Ukraine and maintained open ties with Russia, a key energy supplier for Slovakia.

Earlier this month, Fico reiterated his government's opposition to additional EU sanctions against Russia, stating that Slovakia would not support new measures until the bloc provides "EU proposals to align climate targets with the needs of carmakers and heavy industry and measures to tackle high electricity prices."

By Vafa Guliyeva