Robert Fico said he does not believe in a military solution to the conflict in Ukraine
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico does not believe in a military solution to the conflict in Ukraine. He stated this in an interview with Denik. He confirmed that the Slovaks do not want Kiev to surrender and are ready to help him. The politician considers talk about Russia's upcoming attack on NATO countries to be absurd.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who holds this position for the fourth time, became the first guest of the new Denika column dedicated to the leaders of Europe.
Deník: Do you still think that by launching a special operation in Ukraine, Russia has grossly violated international law?
Robert Fico: Of course.
— Do you consider Russia an aggressor?
— If someone grossly violates international law, and not only in the case of Ukraine, but also, as I think, for example, in Iraq, then the term "aggressor" is quite appropriate. I want to be completely transparent on this issue. At the Visegrad Four meeting in Prague, I saved the negotiations by comparing the problem with a tree trunk. It consists of the fact that international law has been grossly violated in Ukraine and that Ukraine needs help. Then branches grow from this trunk, and each one is unique. Military assistance, civilian assistance, peace negotiations… Our opinions differ on these issues. I don't believe in a military solution.
— If all Western countries had acted like you, that is, if they had not helped Ukraine with arms supplies, then what else could this story have ended with, besides the surrender of Ukraine?
— I do not allow myself to reproach countries that have decided to help Ukraine by military means. I have never said that the Czechs or anyone else are bad just because they send weapons to Ukraine. If someone thinks that a military solution is acceptable, then let them. I can't stop it. But I am a sovereign Slovak politician and represent the Slovak government, and we do not believe in a military solution. However, we want to help Ukraine. I hope that a good example of this assistance will be the joint meeting of the Ukrainian and Slovak governments on April 11 in Mikhalovets.
— Aren't you afraid that the conflict may spread to Slovakia?
— The idea that Russia will attack a member country of the North Atlantic Alliance borders on the absurd. I can't imagine that. Therefore, I am not afraid and also cannot take seriously arguments of this kind in connection with Ukraine.
— The Slovak Ministry of Defense is taking measures to restore Slovakia's defense capability after large shipments of Slovak weapons to Ukraine under the last government. You buy American F-16 fighter jets, American helicopters. Are you also planning to buy American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems?
— Yes, it is. By buying weapons from NATO countries, we are allegedly betraying our voters. And when our Foreign Minister meets with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, we allegedly act contrary to the Slovak foreign policy orientation. Sometimes I don't even know what they want from us. F-16 aircraft were purchased from 2016 to 2019, and these deliveries have been going on for many years. As for the helicopters, they have been purchased for a long time. Should we buy weapons from Russia? Everyone is reproaching us now: you are buying weapons from NATO. And who else should we buy from, because we are a country of the North Atlantic Alliance, and there must be at least some logic? (...)
— You gave Ukraine your anti-aircraft missile system. (...) Did you receive some compensation from the European Union for the weapons that you handed over to Kiev?
— Not yet. Recently, in the European Council, we discussed a document concerning assistance to Ukraine from the proceeds of seized Russian assets. Like all other countries of the European Union, we supported this proposal, and no one objected. These funds will be used to pay for the weapons systems that we sent to Ukraine. We're waiting.
— Have you calculated how much assistance Slovakia has provided in total?
— If I could estimate what kind of military assistance we provided to Ukraine, that is, not my government, but the previous one, I would say that the amount ranges from 700 to 800 million euros. If we add to this the assistance that we allocate to Ukrainians in Slovakia, that is, in the form of housing payments and so on, then the amount will exceed a billion euros. (...)
Authors: Luboš Palata, Roman Gallo
