Slovakia blocks planned arms delivery to kyiv

The new coalition government led since the end of October by Robert Fico, which includes a far-right pro-Russian party, “does not approve the proposal to donate military equipment to Ukraine” worth 40.3 million euros.

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for a summit of European Union leaders, October 26, 2023, at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium.  (LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP)

The new Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico kept his word. He blocked a major arms delivery to Ukraine on Wednesday November 8, which had been scheduled by the previous executive. Robert Fico pledged in October that aid to Ukraine would henceforth be limited to “humanitarian and civil aid”. On Tuesday, however, he declared that “if a company [slovaque] wants to make weapons somewhere and supply them [à l’Ukraine]no one will stop him.”

The new coalition government led since October by Robert Fico, which includes a pro-Russian far-right party, “does not approve the proposal to donate military equipment to Ukraine” worth 40.3 million euros, it is stated on its official website. This proposed 14th aid package prepared by the former leadership of the Ministry of Defense included the delivery of 7.62 mm and large caliber ammunition for 125 mm guns, as well as rockets for air defense, mortars and mines.

After his election victory in September, Robert Fico declared that “Slovakia and its people have bigger problems (to solve) than Ukraine” and had called for peace talks because “further killings won’t help anyone”. Since the start of the war started in neighboring Ukraine by Russia, Slovakia has transferred military equipment worth an estimated 671 million euros to kyiv.


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