Slovakia will provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid only

Slovakia is halting arms supplies to Ukraine and will provide it with assistance exclusively of a humanitarian nature.

This was stated by Prime Minister Robert Fico at a joint press conference with the head of the Czech government; the event was broadcast on the Slovak cabinet’s official Facebook page.

Speaking in Bratislava, Fico clearly set out the government’s new position. He also confirmed that Slovakia is prepared to take part only in monitoring a possible peace agreement as a neighboring state.

“We will focus exclusively on humanitarian and mutually beneficial cooperation… no soldiers, no weapons, no military credit,” the Slovak prime minister said.

The statement came amid reports that the United Kingdom and France are planning to create military bases in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

In December, Politico wrote that other European Union countries could join Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, which on December 19 refused to allocate funds to finance Ukraine. The report noted that in the coming years, due to a budget deficit, Ukraine will need “much more” money from Europe, and it will become “increasingly difficult” for the bloc to meet the country’s needs. It also said Ukraine will find it “not easy” to obtain another loan once its budget runs dry again.