Slovak PM Fico's statements on Ukraine contradict his own actions - political expert

He said this on Espreso TV.

"The fact is that Fico's statements and his actions regarding Ukraine are very different. Especially when it comes to military aid to Ukraine. For example, we can take 155-mm artillery ammunition. Last year, the United States produced more than 400,000 of these shells for Ukraine. In Slovakia, 150,000 155-mm shells were produced last year. And these munitions were produced for Ukraine. If the EU provides Ukraine with the promised 1 million shells this year, 200,000 of them should be made in Slovakia. This is despite the fact that Fico won the election by emphasizing that Slovakia would not provide Ukraine with any ammunition. So much for Fico," explained Duleba.

According to the political scientist, unlike Hungary, Slovakia supports all decisions on Ukraine's European integration.

"I understand the term used by the Ukrainian Prime Minister regarding relations with Slovakia. He called these relations 'new pragmatism'. New because it is unclear what Fico is saying, but pragmatic because Slovakia continues to provide Ukraine with ammunition. I would like to remind you that Hungary has not provided Ukraine with any military assistance since the full-scale invasion. Therefore, it makes no sense to compare Orban and Fico. In addition, Hungary continues to block Ukraine's European integration process. In particular, all the key decisions that need to be made for Ukraine to move towards the EU. Fico fully supports this decision," he added.

• On October 7, the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Slovakia, Denys Shmyhal and Robert Fico, held their second intergovernmental consultations in Uzhhorod. The head of the Slovak government said that his country is "cold" toward Ukraine's membership in NATO.
• On October 8, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico commented on MEPs' calls for Ukraine to be allowed to use long-range weapons against Russia: he believes that a missile strike on Brussels would make them “understand what we are talking about.”