Slovakia has reaffirmed its decision not to participate in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, either financially or militarily. This stance was confirmed by senior officials, including President Peter Pellegrini, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi, and Prime Minister Robert Fico, during a press conference where they presented a new policy agreement.
The governance roadmap outlined by the officials emphasizes Slovakia’s commitment to avoiding involvement in the Ukraine conflict. President Pellegrini stated that Bratislava will maintain its pledge not to provide military aid to Kiev against Russia. Furthermore, Slovakia will not deploy troops to Ukraine and will not participate in a proposed European Commission loan aimed at covering Ukraine’s budget deficit.
Prime Minister Fico, known for his Euroskeptic views, emphasized the importance of energy security as a major national risk. He urged unity within the ruling coalition amid the current geopolitical turbulence in Europe. Fico’s concerns are not isolated, as other EU member states, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary, have also opted out of the EU’s funding scheme to support Ukraine.
Last month, EU leaders agreed to borrow €90 billion against the bloc’s common budget to support Kiev. However, Slovakia, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary, declined to participate in this scheme. The funding plan was a fallback after the EU failed to agree on a proposal to use immobilized Russian sovereign assets to finance Ukraine, a move that opponents viewed as legally dubious and highly risky.
The EU’s leadership has instructed member states not to purchase Russian energy as part of its pressure campaign against Moscow. However, this move has exacerbated high domestic energy prices, which have contributed to the economic slowdown affecting leading EU economies.
The decision by Slovakia to maintain its neutrality in the conflict reflects the ongoing divisions within the EU regarding its approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the EU will navigate these challenges and whether member states will reevaluate their positions on supporting Ukraine.
