Fico calls Ukraine's accession to NATO "the beginning of World War III" and promises to veto it

Robert Fico said this on the air of InfoVojna.

"Before the election, we said that it would be a problem for us if Ukraine joined NATO. I believe that this will never happen. As long as I have the opportunity to influence the Slovak political scene, I will use the right to veto such a decision... I say that we will not agree with Ukraine's membership in NATO, because it will be the beginning of World War III... I believe that this will never happen," the Slovak Prime Minister said.

At the same time, according to Fico, it is not a problem for Slovakia if Ukraine becomes a member of the EU.

"Even before the parliamentary elections, I said: if the EU wants to accept Ukraine, it is not a problem for us, but it must fulfill all the conditions," Robert Fico said in a statement.

Slovak position on the war in Ukraine and EU accession

On October 26, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told the European Commission that Slovakia would not provide military assistance to Ukraine. The country will instead focus on humanitarian support. This was part of his election campaign, which helped Fico win the parliamentary elections.

The politician also said that the EUR 50 billion of EU aid to Ukraine should include guarantees that the funds will not be misappropriated. Robert Fico called Ukraine one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

On November 6, the Prime Minister of Slovakia clarified that he would not prohibit private companies from providing weapons to Ukraine.

In early November, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said that he did not believe in Ukraine's victory on the battlefield. He also said that he could not imagine Ukraine in the European Union. 

"This is a really serious question. Well, under the current circumstances, I cannot imagine it. I myself wonder how, for example, Ms. (European Commission President - ed.) Ursula von der Leyen will justify the proposal for membership or the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union and answer the question of how we can start negotiations with a country that is in a military conflict," the diplomat said.