Slovakia suspends aid to Ukraine after pro-Russian party wins election

This is reported by Politico.

The interim government of Slovakia made this choice because the parties negotiating the formation of a new government after the elections are opposed to further support for Kyiv.

“The outgoing bureaucratic government in Slovakia will not send any more military material to Ukraine,” a government spokesman said.  

According to Politico, Slovakia's Defense Ministry was considering sending a new aid package.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has asked the leader of the Smer party, Robert Fico, to try to form a coalition government. He has until October 16 to do so.

Slovak elections and Fico's position on Ukraine

On September 30, parliamentary elections were held in Slovakia, where one of the leading parties was Robert Fico's Smer, which has a pro-Russian orientation. The party's leader had stated the day before that he wanted to cancel military and political support for Ukraine.

In April, law enforcement officials in Slovakia closed a criminal case against Fico for publishing a video of the transfer of the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine.

According to the results from almost all polling stations that were counted as of the morning of October 1, the pro-Russian Smer party won the parliamentary elections in Slovakia. Fico then initiated peace talks with Ukraine.

At the same time, the Slovak Foreign Ministry accused Russia of interfering in the parliamentary elections and summoned a Russian embassy official after Russia's remarks about the "American footprint" in the country.

On October 6, Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová opposed a new military aid package for Ukraine, but later changed her mind and assured Kyiv of continued support.