Slovakia's new government cancels military aid package to Ukraine

The government of new Slovakian Prime Minister Fico blocked a package of more than $40 million in military equipment that the previous government intended for Ukraine.

"We do not approve the proposal to provide military equipment to Ukraine," the government of new Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a resolution issued on November 8.

The proposal to provide military equipment to Ukraine was made by the government of former Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger before handing over power to his successor Fico last month.

The aid package, estimated to be worth more than $40 million, includes 140 missiles for the KUB air defense system, more than 5,000 125 mm artillery shells and 4 million rounds of ammunition.

New Slovak Prime Minister Fico announced immediately after taking office that he would stop providing weapons to Ukraine and would only support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in the country. He said that Slovakia had more internal issues to focus on than providing aid to Ukraine.

New Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on October 25. Photo: Reuters

Mr Fico has previously criticised the West for its military aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, and has called for peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Slovakia's new prime minister has repeatedly said the country would halt military shipments to Ukraine, but he recently added that private business transactions would not be affected.

The previous Slovak government was staunchly pro-Ukrainian and provided military equipment such as S-300 air defense systems and MiG-29 fighter jets to Kiev.

Slovakia, which shares an eastern border with Ukraine, has sent 13 military aid packages worth a total of 671 million euros to Kiev since the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine in February 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last month that Slovakia was not a major arms supplier to Ukraine, so Prime Minister Fico's decision would not affect the situation of the war.