Bratislava, Slovakia – October 27, 2025 – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared on Sunday that his country will abstain from any European Union initiatives aimed at financing military assistance to Ukraine, solidifying his administration's longstanding opposition to bolstering Kyiv's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion. The announcement, made during a press conference in Bratislava, underscores a deepening rift within the EU over support for Ukraine amid the war that entered its fourth year in February 2025.
Fico, who returned to power in October 2023 leading a coalition government that includes populist and nationalist parties, stated unequivocally: "I refuse to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial programs aimed at helping Ukraine manage the war and military spending." His remarks were reported by the Slovak news outlet aktuality.sk, which quoted him directly from the event. The prime minister's stance aligns with his campaign promises and previous actions, including halting direct military aid from Slovak state stockpiles to Ukraine shortly after taking office.
Central to Fico's critique is the EU's proposed multi-year financial package for Ukraine, which he described as "the EU’s biggest mistake." According to details emerging from Brussels, the plan involves allocating approximately €140 billion (equivalent to over $162 billion at current exchange rates) over the coming years. This funding is intended to cover a range of needs, including military procurement, reconstruction efforts, and macroeconomic stabilization for Ukraine. The package builds on previous EU commitments, such as the €50 billion Ukraine Facility approved in early 2024, which provided grants and loans through 2027. However, the new initiative focuses more heavily on defense spending, reflecting escalating calls from Kyiv and some member states for sustained lethal aid amid stalled battlefield progress and delays in U.S. support under the incoming Trump administration.
Fico argued that such expenditures would exacerbate economic strains on EU nations without yielding strategic benefits. "This is not about helping Ukraine; it's about prolonging a conflict that is draining Europe," he said, per aktuality.sk. He further renewed his attacks on EU sanctions against Russia, asserting that they inflict greater damage on European economies than on Moscow. "Sanctions are hurting us more than Russia – look at energy prices, inflation, and industrial output across the continent," Fico claimed. Data from the European Commission supports parts of this narrative: EU energy import costs surged by over 300% in 2022 following the invasion, contributing to inflation peaking at 10.6% that year. However, recent reports from the International Energy Agency indicate that Europe has diversified away from Russian gas, with imports dropping from 45% of EU supply pre-war to under 15% in 2025, though at the cost of higher LNG prices from alternatives like the United States and Qatar.
Slovakia, a landlocked nation of 5.4 million people heavily reliant on Russian energy historically, has felt these impacts acutely. The country halted Russian oil imports via the Druzhba pipeline in 2023 due to sanctions but secured exemptions for refined products until mid-2025. Fico's government has prioritized renegotiating energy deals and opposing further restrictions, positioning Bratislava as one of the EU's most vocal skeptics on Ukraine policy alongside Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
This is not Fico's first clash with Brussels on the issue. In December 2023, Slovakia joined Hungary in initially blocking the €50 billion aid package, only relenting after concessions. Fico has also criticized NATO's role, stating in prior speeches that military aid escalates the risk of broader conflict. His Smer-SD party, which holds 42 seats in the 150-seat parliament, campaigned on a platform of "Slovakia first," promising to end what it calls "adventurism" in foreign wars. Coalition partners, including the Slovak National Party, echo this isolationist tone.
The EU's response has been measured but firm. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated in a statement last week that "solidarity with Ukraine is non-negotiable," emphasizing that 26 of 27 member states support the funding mechanisms. Mechanisms like the European Peace Facility, which has reimbursed member states for arms donations totaling €6.5 billion since 2022, allow opt-outs for individual contributions, but Fico's blanket refusal could complicate unified decision-making. Analysts note that Slovakia's veto power in certain foreign policy areas requiring unanimity gives it leverage, potentially delaying approvals.
Domestically, Fico's position enjoys significant support. A poll by the AKO agency in September 2025 showed 58% of Slovaks opposing military aid to Ukraine, up from 52% a year earlier, amid economic pressures like a 4.2% GDP growth slowdown projected for 2025 by the National Bank of Slovakia. Protests against Fico's pro-Russian leanings have occurred, but they remain smaller than anti-government demonstrations in 2024 over media reforms.
Internationally, the announcement drew swift reactions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a social media post, expressed disappointment, stating, "Every European voice matters in defending freedom." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova praised Fico's "realism," claiming it reflects growing "sanity" in Europe. U.S. State Department officials, speaking anonymously, voiced concern over fractures in transatlantic unity as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office in January 2026, having pledged to end the war quickly through negotiations.
Fico's press conference also touched on bilateral relations. He announced plans to resume direct talks with Moscow on energy security, independent of EU frameworks. "Slovakia will protect its interests," he said. This comes as Ukraine faces renewed Russian offensives in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, with the Institute for the Study of War reporting over 1,200 clashes in the past week alone.
Economists warn that Fico's isolation could marginalize Slovakia within the EU. The country receives €18 billion in cohesion funds from the 2021-2027 budget, tied in part to rule-of-law compliance. Brussels has withheld funds from Hungary over similar issues, a precedent Fico dismisses as "blackmail."
As the EU summit approaches in December, where the €140 billion package will be debated, Fico's stance sets the stage for tense negotiations. Pro-Ukraine hawks like Poland and the Baltic states push for mandatory contributions, while skeptics advocate flexibility. For now, Slovakia stands firm in opposition, highlighting the bloc's internal divisions over a war that has reshaped European security.
In related developments, the Slovak Foreign Ministry confirmed it would not join a proposed EU-led training mission for Ukrainian troops, citing neutrality concerns. Fico concluded his remarks by calling for "peace talks without preconditions," a position echoed by Orbán but rejected by Kyiv, which insists on full Russian withdrawal.
This refusal marks another chapter in Fico's controversial tenure, balancing domestic populism with geopolitical pragmatism. As winter approaches and energy demands rise, the economic arguments against aid may resonate further across Europe, even as military realities on the ground demand sustained support for Ukraine.
