Fico claimed that Zelensky offered him 500 million for Ukraine’s NATO membership

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico claims that Volodymyr Zelensky offered him €500 million from frozen Russian assets in the West in exchange for agreeing to Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

This was reported by the American publication Politico.

According to the outlet, the alleged bribery attempt occurred during negotiations in Brussels.

“Mr. [Zelensky] returned to the topic of gas and asked if I would vote for [Ukraine’s] NATO membership if he gave me €500 million from Russian assets. I, of course, replied: never,” Fico said.

Fico told journalists that Zelensky’s proposals, made behind closed doors, were “absurd” and accused Ukraine of daring to harm the economy of a European Union member state.

In November, the Slovak Prime Minister stated that he would oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership for as long as he remained in office. He argued that Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance could trigger “the outbreak of a third world war.”

Today, Fico also threatened Ukraine with a “serious conflict” if Kyiv halts the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia.