Zelensky Hit With Double Blow from European Ally

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing a growing challenge in Central Europe as populist leaders—including the newly elected prime minister of Slovakia—push back against European Union-NATO military assistance for Kyiv.

On Thursday, Ukraine-skeptic Prime Minister Robert Fico—fresh off his victory in last month's parliamentary election—said that Slovakia would no longer provide military aid to Ukraine. Fico is following through on campaign trail vows to push for negotiations with Moscow and an immediate end to the Kremlin's war.

"I will support zero military aid to Ukraine," Fico said. "An immediate halt to military operations is the best solution we have for Ukraine," the prime minister added, noting that Bratislava would continue to send humanitarian supplies to the country. "The EU should change from an arms supplier to a peacemaker," Fico said.

Fico added that he would push back against any sanctions on Russia that he deems harmful to Bratislava. "I will not vote for any sanctions against Russia, unless we see analyses of their impact on Slovakia," he said. "If there are to be such sanctions that will harm us, like most sanctions have, I can see no reason to support them."

Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry by email to request comment.

Fico's election has raised the prospect that Slovakia will join Hungary and its Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a spoiler in the EU's ongoing measures against Moscow.

Alena Kudzko, vice president for policy and programming at the GLOBSEC think tank in Bratislava, has told Newsweek that Fico has been known for his pragmatism throughout his long political career.

"He will not support Russia for the sake of supporting Russia, he will not support Orban for the sake of supporting Orban, and he will not support the EU or NATO for the sake of supporting the EU or NATO," Kudzko said.

"If it's necessary, he very may well go along with EU and NATO decisions," she added. "But, of course, he may make sure that he is bargaining hard and that he's able to get certain concessions for Slovakia that are useful for him at home."

Slovakia is one of the smallest nations in NATO and the EU, but the unanimity decision-making process of both blocs gives Bratislava significant influence. Even one nation—Hungary—has caused significant discord within the two bodies, and EU-NATO officials may now be facing a doubled challenge.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and the chair of the body's foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek that Fico's announcement "is not a pleasant development, and we might be dealing with a 'mini-Orban.'

"But Slovakia was not the biggest provider of aid to Ukraine anyway," he added. "At the same time, I hope that Slovakia's democratic opposition is strong enough not to let Fico turn this country into Hungary."

Despite its small size, the pre-Fico Slovakian government provided a significant amount of military aid to Ukraine. Ammunition, armored vehicles, artillery pieces and even fighter jets have made their way eastwards from Bratislava since February 2022, with former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad declaring weapons delivery as "the right thing" to do.

When asked Thursday about Fico's decision, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "Slovakia did not have such a big share in the supply of weapons, so it will hardly affect the entire process."

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