Slovak government won't block arms supply from private producers to Ukraine - PM Fico

This is reported by Bloomberg.

Fico said that his election promise not to provide any military assistance to Ukraine concerned only supplies from the Slovak army's stockpile. Thus, he softened his key election promise, explaining that his government would not block the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine from private manufacturers.

"If a company wants to produce and sell weapons abroad, we have nothing against it," Fico said.

Slovakia annually produces about 180,000 artillery shells and has become one of the key suppliers of ammunition to Ukraine, which, in particular, has also received howitzers made in Slovakia.

• On 26 October, Robert Fico told the European Commission that he would not provide military assistance to Ukraine. The country will limit itself to humanitarian support. This was part of his election campaign, which helped Fico win the parliamentary elections.
• Fico said that the 50 billion euros of EU aid to Ukraine should include guarantees that the funds will not be misappropriated.