Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that Europe is moving dangerously close to a direct clash between NATO and Russia, accusing Western nations of seeking a pretext for conflict.
In a Facebook post Thursday, Fico stated: “I am deeply concerned that they are merely looking for a pretext for a major conflict between NATO and Russia.”
Reflecting on the Ukraine conflict, Fico said the hostilities had “gotten out of control,” while criticizing European nations for increasingly bellicose rhetoric. He warned Slovakia could face pressure from NATO to commit troops if Article 5 is invoked: “Can anyone imagine being told to prepare 5,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers, and that they would go somewhere to fight? We don’t know with whom, why, or for what reason.”
Fico emphasized his commitment to ensuring Slovakia is never drawn into a war: “I don’t want Slovakia to be part of any military conflict because of some Article 5.”
The Slovak leader has consistently opposed military support for Ukraine since returning to office in 2023 and halted government weapons shipments. He has also condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decisions as reckless, stressing they risk triggering a wider conflict.
