As Sputnik reported on 10.01.2024, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico stated in his article that “the West’s strategy in Ukraine has not worked from the very beginning”. In his article, Robert Fico stated the following: [i]
“It is shocking to see that the West has been repeatedly wrong in its assessment of the situation in Russia. The facts are brutal. Russia retains complete military control in the region. Neither the Russian economy nor the Russian currency has collapsed. Anti-Russian sanctions are increasing the self-sufficiency of this huge country. Russian energy giants are reporting record supplies to China and India. While the Ukrainian president’s position is being undermined, the Russian president’s political support is growing and strengthening.”
The Prime Minister of Slovakia emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine has from the very beginning been moving in the direction of the black-and-white vision that Washington and Brussels wanted, a vision that he rejected. In the article, Fico stated that Russia also needs security guarantees and believes that there is a need to return to the recent European rhetoric that the EU and Russia are to some extent “united ships” and need each other. Referring to the security concerns expressed by Russia, the Slovakian Prime Minister commented: [ii]
“The war in Ukraine has its roots in 2014, in the development of the Ukrainian political scene and its relations with Russian citizens. And, of course, it is rooted in the total influence of the United States on everything that has happened and is happening in Ukraine since 2014. Imagine, for example, that the entire Ministry of Defense of Mexico, a neighbor of the United States, is under Russian control, not to mention the political leadership, including the president.”
Robert Fico, who had previously served as prime minister for two more terms, took office for the third time on October 25, 2023. The first thing he announced the day after his inauguration was the withdrawal of the Slovakian government’s military aid to Ukraine. According to Fico, Slovakia broke new ground in the Western bloc “in terms of withdrawing its aid”, adding that humanitarian aid would not stop. Fico said that the people of Slovakia have more pressing problems than Ukraine: “The immediate cessation of military operations is the best solution we have for Ukraine. The EU must turn from an arms supplier to a peacemaker.” In this context, the Prime Minister of Slovakia also claimed that Western sanctions have harmed them rather than Russia and therefore stated that he would not support new sanctions packages. [iii]
In the light of the aforementioned developments, Robert Fico argued that Ukraine’s admission to NATO could lead to World War III. [iv] In addition, accusing Western countries of fueling the Ukrainian War and creating a deadlock, the Prime Minister of Slovakia made the following statements: [v]
“We said before the election that it would be a problem for us if Ukraine joined NATO. I also said this in my meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: so that there are no surprises, I am speaking on behalf of the dominant party in the Slovak government, that we will not accept Ukraine’s NATO membership, because it would be the beginning of the Third World War. I believe that this will never happen. As long as I have the opportunity to influence the Slovak political scene, I will exercise my right to veto such a decision….I do not believe that there can be a military solution to the conflict in Ukraine. We have to admit to ourselves and say: Ukraine does not have enough power to turn the situation militarily, it is not capable of any counterattack. We can pour all the weapons in the world, all the money there, but Russia will never be defeated militarily.” In late 2023, the effectiveness of Ukraine’s counter-attack came into question. In the context of these debates, the Slovak leader’s position is clear. He argues that the weakening of trade relations between Europe and Russia is bad for Europe in the first place. Fico respects Russia’s perception of Ukraine as its sphere of influence and agrees with Russia’s “security concerns related to NATO enlargement”. In parallel, he finds military aid to Ukraine unnecessary.
[i]“Slovakya Başbakanı Fico: Batı’nın Ukrayna Stratejisi En Başından Beri İşe Yaramıyor”, Sputnik, https://sputniknews.com.tr/20240110/slovakya-basbakani-fico-batinin-ukrayna-stratejisi-en-basindan-beri-ise-yaramiyor-1079507026.html, (Date of Accesion: 10.01.2024).
[ii] Ibıd.
[iii]“Slovakia’s New Populist PM Announces Halt Of Military Aid To Ukraine”, France 24, https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231026-slovakia-announces-halt-of-military-aid-to-ukraine, (Date of Accesion: 10.01.2024).
[iv] “Slovakya Başbakanı Fitzo: Ukrayna’nın NATO’ya Kabulü 3. Dünya Savaşı’nın Başlangıcı Olur”, Sputnik, https://sputniknews.com.tr/20231220/slovakya-basbakani-fitzo-ukraynanin-natoya-kabulu-3-dunya-savasinin-baslangici-olur-1078654779.html, (Date of Accesion: 10.01.2024).
[v] “Slovakya Başbakanı: Dünyadaki Hiçbir Silah Ukrayna’nın Rusya’yı Yenmesine Yardımcı Olmayacak”, Sputnik, https://sputniknews.com.tr/20231222/slovakya-basbakani-dunyadaki-hicbir-silah-ukraynanin-rusyayi-yenmesine-yardimci-olmayacak-1078723881.html, (Date of Accesion: 10.01.2024).
