Slovak PM Robert Fico stirs tensions with coup, EU threats

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused the opposition of preparing a coup in a recording released online.

He also threatened Ukraine with vetoing the European Union's financial aid for Kyiv and reiterated his opposition to Ukraine's membership in NATO.

Fico emphasized that his government is prepared for all scenarios, including an attempted coup, which he described as a "maidan," meaning carried out through street protests. He accused the opposition, whose leader recently visited Kyiv, of promising support for Ukraine's NATO membership.

The leader of the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, Michal Shimečka, reportedly promised, according to Fico, to send soldiers to Ukraine once in power. The Slovak Prime Minister declared that his government will never support Ukraine's membership in NATO because it could lead to the outbreak of a third world war. He also stated that he will never send soldiers to Ukraine to fight against Russians.

Fico also defended his colleague, Vice Chairman of Parliament Tibor Gašpar, who suggested the possibility of Slovakia leaving the EU. The Prime Minister stated that just as the Warsaw Pact disbanded, global events could lead to the breakup of the EU and NATO.

The policy of the Slovak Prime Minister has been the subject of loud commentary not only internationally but also within the country for weeks. The situation became more intense after Robert Fico visited Russia.

The Prime Minister's visit to the Kremlin triggered a wave of protests in Slovakia. Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Bratislava to express their opposition to the government's policies. Protesters chanted slogans such as "We are not Russia!" and "We are not Russia's rag!"