The resurgence of Robert Fico as Prime Minister of Slovakia has significantly shifted the country’s stance, rendering it one of the most pro-Russian entities in Europe, according to observations from Bloomberg analysts.
“Gone are the days when Slovak diplomats rallied EU member states to open accession talks with Ukraine. Or when Bratislava provided military aid, including jets and combat vehicles,” the authors note.
Furthermore, Fico’s public criticism of his EU counterparts for their reluctance to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine has stirred controversy, particularly in the Czech Republic and France. This led Prague to suspend government consultations with Slovakia, while France excluded Slovak representatives from subsequent talks on Ukraine, citing concerns over Fico’s stance, wrote Bloomberg.
Despite these rifts, the authors suggest that Fico remains undeterred by the prospect of losing favor in Europe.
In the autumn of 2023, Fico’s party, Smer, emerged victorious in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections. Fico openly opposed backing for Kyiv and criticized the West for what he deemed as overly sympathetic treatment of Ukrainian nationalists. He also highlighted the detrimental impact of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ assistance, claiming it left the Slovak army in dire straits, devoid of combat aircraft and air defense systems.
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