Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has reaffirmed his government’s opposition to further financial assistance for Ukraine, insisting that Europe should prioritise diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war with Russia.

Speaking after an informal European Union summit in Dublin on November 13, Fico welcomed an agreement among European leaders on establishing a delegation to represent Europe in future negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

Fico described the development as an important step towards bringing Europe closer to the peace process, arguing that the continent must demonstrate its commitment to ending the conflict rather than focusing exclusively on military and financial support.

He reiterated that Slovakia would not participate in another financial loan for Ukraine, particularly a proposed €70 billion funding package intended to address Kyiv’s projected financial needs in 2027. However, he stressed that Slovakia remained willing to provide humanitarian assistance to the country.

The Slovak leader’s position follows disagreements within the EU over proposals to secure additional funding for Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pushed for all EU member states to contribute, while Fico has criticised attempts to link Ukraine funding commitments to negotiations over the bloc’s next long-term budget.

Despite welcoming the diplomatic initiative, Fico acknowledged that reaching an agreement to end the war would be difficult. He maintained that Europe must take a more active role in negotiations and demonstrate that it supports peace.

Slovakia’s position highlights growing divisions within the European Union over the future of financial assistance to Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts continue to explore possible pathways towards ending the conflict.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________