Slovakia, an active supplier of humanitarian aid to Ukraine found caught on the wrong foot.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has slammed populist Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for being “unable to comprehend” the causes of the full-scale war Russia launched against Ukraine in February 2022. Before returning to power in the autumn of 2023, Fico and the nominally leftist Smer party moved deep into the national conservative levels, and adopted pro-Kremlin propaganda talking points about Russia being “provoked” into invading Ukraine.

Lambasting at the Slovak leader, the Ukrainian Government was soon to react. According to a press release Ukraine has condemned the rhetoric narrative of the Slovakian leader. After more than three years of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico still fails to realize the true reasons behind this criminal invasion and the dangers of engaging with the aggressor state. It is regrettable that the Head of Government of an EU Member State allows himself to resort to openly offensive rhetoric towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who continue to heroically resist the Russian aggression and defend their land in the interest of the security of the entire European continent.

We strongly caution against the use of unfriendly folkloric analogies and attempts to boost domestic political ratings at the expense of Ukraine. Such flippant statements insult the memory of the fallen, the suffering of millions of Ukrainian families, and the sacrifice of those who fight for freedom. Ukraine greatly values the comprehensive support of our international partners who consistently defend the principles of territorial integrity of sovereign states, the rule of international law, and the preservation of the global rules-based order. Against this background, Robert Fico’s statements stand in stark contrast to the spirit of good neighbourliness, solidarity, and mutual respect that the Slovak people have continuously shown towards Ukraine. Thus, Mr. Fico also disrespects his own people.

Fico was quick to issue his statement in response, saying “no one will take away the right to free speech and to have other than obligatory view from me”, alleging that last year’s assassination attempt against him was carried out because of “my view on the war in Ukraine”. He also claimed that “the war in Ukraine deformed free speech in the EU”, adding that “any other than a mandatory view is sharply criticised and condemned even though it comes from objective information”.  

Team Maverick