Fico on energy, tender for ambulances, war in Ukraine and his vacation in Croatia

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Sunday that the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic"still fails to realize the real reasons for this criminal invasion and the danger of cooperation with an aggressor state."

According to Kiev, it is regrettable that the prime minister of an EU member state is resorting to"openly offensive rhetoric towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people", who have been resisting Russian aggression for more than three years and defending their country in the interests of the security of the entire European continent.

The ministry warned against using"hostile folk analogies" and seeking to boost domestic political preferences at the expense of Ukraine. It called such statements frivolous, insulting the memory of those who died in the war, the suffering of millions of Ukrainian families, and the sacrifice of those fighting for freedom.

According to the ministry, Ukraine appreciates the comprehensive support of international partners who defend the principles of territorial integrity of sovereign states, the principles of international law, and the preservation of a rules-based global order.

"In this context, Robert Fico's statements sharply contradict the spirit of good neighborliness, solidarity and mutual respect that the Slovak people have consistently shown towards Ukraine. By doing so, Mr. Fico is also showing disrespect for his own nation," the Ukrainian ministry concluded.

The direction was supposedly right about everything.

On Saturday, Fico commented on Facebook about the upcoming August meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He said that Smer was right about almost everything in its assessment of the conflict.

"Everyone already knows that the conflict has serious roots in recent history, that it has no military solution. That Ukraine's membership in NATO is impossible. That it was used by the West to weaken Russia, which failed and for which it will pay dearly," said Fico.

He claims that Ukraine bears partial responsibility for the current situation because it supported a"failed strategy" to harm Russia through military aid from the West. According to him, the war could have ended as early as April 2022, but several Western politicians prevented it.

The Prime Minister believes that the coming weeks will not be favorable for Ukraine. He considers it crucial to agree on an immediate cessation of fighting and killings and to ensure that"Western players do not sabotage a possible ceasefire agreement."

Fico: War has distorted freedom of expression in the EU

"The right to a different opinion expressed in a normal way is the foundation of democracy. Restricting this right is the beginning of its end," Fico responded to the Ukrainian ministry's words. According to him, the war in Ukraine has distorted freedom of expression in the EU - any opinion other than the"mandatory opinion" is, according to him, sharply criticized, even when it is based on objective information.

"As the Prime Minister of a sovereign country, I will maintain my right to freedom of expression and a different opinion, even if it causes nervousness among my colleagues in the EU and in neighboring Ukraine. Even if my sovereign opinion on the military conflict in Ukraine almost cost me my life," said Fico.

He also denied using openly offensive rhetoric, saying he wanted an"immediate just peace" and an end to the "senseless killing of Slavs."

He recalled that Slovakia is among the countries with the most intensive assistance to Ukraine – it supplies it with electricity and provides infrastructure for gas transit. However, he added that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stopped gas supplies to Slovakia via Ukrainian territory, thereby damaging it."However, neighborly relations cannot be just a one-way ticket," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Robert Fico has repeatedly been critical of the war in Ukraine and rejects the Western strategy towards Russia. Kiev has long viewed his words as harmful and disrespectful towards the victims of Russian aggression and has repeatedly responded to them with harsh statements.