preložiť Fico thinks that the war in Ukraine will end soon. A change in development, according to him, is indicated by the invitation to NATO
Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) thinks that the end of the war in Ukraine is coming soon. He expects a shift on the issue of the war's resolution and is also waiting to see what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will bring to the European Council meeting in Brussels.
He pointed out that there is talk of inviting Ukraine to join NATO again. He reiterated that Smer-SD was against Ukraine's accession to NATO, which would, in his opinion, bring about a third world war. He stated this at Wednesday's meeting of the National Council's Committee on European Affairs before his departure for the European Council.
The topic of Ukraine in NATO
Fico thinks the war in Ukraine will end very quickly. "The likelihood of ending the war in Ukraine is very high in a short time," the prime minister said. "I expect that tomorrow something might be hinted at, because suddenly the topic of Ukraine's invitation to NATO is coming up," he added. He does not think this invitation would be "free".
The Slovak prime minister wishes Ukraine a just peace, but wonders whether it is possible to achieve it in this situation. He reiterated that Slovakia supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. Fico will support any peace plan put forward to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister, peace negotiations will also be one of the main topics of his talks in China. At the same time, he said that he had always sought balanced relations with Russia. It should be forgotten, he said, that the Russians would leave Crimea and other territories such as Donetsk and Luhansk. In his view, the Russians are gaining more and more territories, he stressed that the conflict has no military solution.
Fico counts on oil and gas supplies
According to Fico, Slovakia continues to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He added that what it needs most is support in the supply of electricity. He expects Ukraine to cooperate in importing oil and gas to Slovakia. "I refuse to take oil from somewhere across the Adriatic," he said, adding that the fees would be increased. "It is our duty that the transit through Slovakia continues, that the transit route through Ukraine continues, whether it is oil and gas," he stated. Slovakia is not donating any military supplies to Ukraine, trade will continue, according to Fico.
The Slovak prime minister will travel to the European Union summit in Brussels on Wednesday. Among other things, he will attend the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting. During the two-day European Council on Thursday (17 October) and Friday (18 October), EU leaders will discuss developments in the Middle East, competitiveness, migration and foreign affairs.
See the video of the negotiations between the Slovak and Ukrainian governments on 7 October: