Slovak PM opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, rejects troop deployment

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has firmly stated that his country will not send soldiers to Ukraine and will oppose the country’s NATO membership.

According to a message posted on the Slovak government’s official Facebook page, Fico emphasized that Slovakia’s position remains unchanged on both issues, Caliber.Az repoprts citing Russian media.

"The EU is not authorized to make decisions on the participation of foreign troops [in peacekeeping operations] on the territory of another state," the message read.

"This is only possible based on decisions taken in the relevant UN bodies or through bilateral agreements between Ukraine and countries willing to send troops to its territory."

Fico reiterated his opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership, adding, "Firstly, I will never agree to its membership in NATO. Secondly, Slovakia will not send any units of its armed forces to Ukraine."

The prime minister also expressed confusion about the upcoming Paris meeting, where leaders of seven EU countries and the UK are expected to discuss the deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine. "This is an agenda that the EU has nothing to do with," Fico noted.

The Slovak PM criticized the participation of top EU officials, including the president of the European Commission, at the Paris meeting, saying their involvement "does not contribute to building trust within the EU."

The Slovak prime minister had a telephone conversation with European Council President António Costa earlier this week to discuss the Paris summit. Fico reiterated his stance in favor of a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine, a position he has voiced on multiple occasions.

By Vafa Guliyeva