Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an enemy of Slovakia.
Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia has vowed to block all EU aid to Ukraine, denouncing President Zelenskyy as an “enemy” and holding him responsible for Slovakia’s current energy difficulties. This follows Ukraine’s halting of Russian natural gas transit earlier this month, significantly impacting Slovakia’s energy security.
Fico, who survived a pro-Ukraine activist’s assassination attempt last year, criticized Zelenskyy on Tuesday for refusing to renew the gas transit contract with Russia’s Gazprom.
“Zelenskyy is our enemy. He is the cause of our problems. I dislike him because he harms Slovakia,” Fico stated, according to local media.
The prime minister rejected a weekend proposal from Zelenskyy suggesting Azerbaijan could transit gas to the EU. Fico dismissed this as an empty promise lacking a concrete plan.
“There’s no project, nothing is ready. [Zelenskyy] is creating false hope to avoid making difficult decisions,” Fico commented.
Fico warned that Bratislava will veto EU aid to Ukraine unless Russian natural gas transit resumes. He intends to raise this with the European Commission on Thursday. Fico suggested the ideal solution would involve Slovakia purchasing gas at the Russian border and transporting it through Ukraine as Slovak property.
Since his 2023 election, Fico and his SMER-SD party have reversed many pro-Ukraine policies of the previous government, including halting arms shipments to Kyiv. Fico has consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and opposed EU sanctions against Russia.
Bratislava also intends to block Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. Fico alleges Zelenskyy attempted to bribe him with €500 million to secure support for Ukraine’s NATO bid.
The already tense relationship between Bratislava and Kyiv has deteriorated further due to the gas dispute. Slovakia, previously reliant on a Soviet-era pipeline for up to 60% of its gas, has been severely impacted by Ukraine’s decision to halt Russian gas transit to Central Europe. Fico previously threatened to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv ceased actions undermining Slovakia’s energy security.