Fico says Slovakia will not join the coalition supporting Ukraine

Yesterday 19:00

By: Azzat Manal

Fico says Slovakia will not join the coalition supporting Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has reiterated that Slovakia will not become a member of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of countries supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

In a statement published on his Facebook page, Fico said that Slovakia had never been part of the coalition and would not join it in the future. He also stated that, as head of government, he had not participated in any meetings involving the military grouping.

Fico's comments followed reports suggesting that Slovakia had joined the coalition. According to the Slovak newspaper euBrief, the information was attributed to the French Embassy in Slovakia.

The Slovak prime minister said he had personally contacted the French ambassador in Bratislava and requested that the embassy refrain from distributing what he described as inaccurate information. According to Fico, the ambassador acknowledged that there had been a misunderstanding and indicated that the matter would be clarified publicly.

The Coalition of the Willing brings together more than 30 countries, with the United Kingdom and France among its leading initiators. The group has discussed possible security arrangements for Ukraine and, in January, its leaders reportedly signed a declaration expressing their intention to consider deploying forces to the country following a potential peace agreement.

Fico has consistently maintained a position that differs from several European governments regarding military support for Ukraine. His government has opposed sending weapons to Kyiv and has repeatedly called for diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

The Kremlin has also criticized the coalition. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described its members as proponents of war who, in Moscow's view, are not genuinely seeking peace.

The latest dispute highlights the differing positions within Europe over the future of the war in Ukraine and the role individual countries should play in supporting Kyiv or pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.