Slovakia's air defenses "pierced" after aid to Ukraine

Phòng không Slovakia bị thủng sau viện trợ cho Ukraine - 1 — Slovakia has handed over its MiG-29 fleet to Ukraine (Photo: Slovak Armed Forces).

"The previous government left us without an air defense system, without a combat air force, and without even the promised 700 million euros to buy MiGs because the previous government also gave this to Ukraine," Minister Kalinak told the Standard .

Taking office in October 2023 under the new government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Mr. Kalinak accused his predecessor of delivering important military equipment to Ukraine without planning for replacement equipment.

The minister warned that Slovakia's airspace is at risk of becoming unprotected, as the US Patriot air defense systems are set to be withdrawn by the end of 2023, while the Italian SAMP/T system could also be moved out this year.

In 2022, Slovakia donated its only S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. In 2023, the government also provided 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Kiev.

Western countries pledged to provide Patriot air defense systems to replace the S-300, as well as reimburse Slovakia 700 million euros for equipping a new MiG fleet. But according to Sputnik , both of these commitments have so far not been fulfilled.

According to Mr. Kalinak, Slovakia is in negotiations with an Israeli military company and is considering purchasing a new air defense system worth 1 billion euros.

Minister Kalinak said it could take “years” to repair the damage to the country’s security. He said the new government was unlikely to find a replacement for the S-300 air defense system during its term.

Following his party's election victory in September 2023, Mr. Fico halted military aid to Kiev, as well as pledged to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

The new prime minister has repeatedly criticised the West's approach to the Ukraine conflict, calling long-term support for Kiev a "useless waste of manpower and money".

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