Additional casualties within the battle between Kiev and Moscow profit no one, says Slovak get together chief Robert Fico
The Slovak Social Democracy (SMER-SD) get together won’t help additional navy assist for Ukraine, its chief, Robert Fico, advised journalists on Sunday. Fico’s get together took the lead within the parliamentary elections held over the weekend and is now poised to begin talks about forming a authorities.
“Slovakia and the folks of Slovakia have larger issues than Ukraine,” he stated at a press convention following the announcement of the election outcomes. The SMER-SD received round 23% of the vote, with its closest competitor, Progressive Slovakia (PS), receiving some 18%.
When requested about his get together’s stance on serving to Kiev, Fico stated that, if his get together efficiently types a authorities, it will nonetheless be prepared to assist, however solely in a humanitarian approach. “We’re ready to assist with the reconstruction of the state, however you recognize our opinion on arming Ukraine,” he stated.
The SMER-SD performed an election marketing campaign beneath the slogan “Not a single spherical,” suggesting that it will finish navy help to Kiev. An EU and NATO member state with a inhabitants of round 5.5 million, Slovakia has already provided Ukrainian forces with armored personnel carriers, howitzers, and its whole fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets.
Final week, Fico vowed at one in all his marketing campaign rallies that his get together wouldn’t “ship a single spherical [of ammunition] to Ukraine” if it received the election. On Sunday, the politician, who’s a former prime minister, described the continued battle as an amazing tragedy, including that prolonging the standoff would solely make issues worse.
“We are going to do all the things we will to begin peace negotiations as shortly as doable,” he stated, referring to the battle between Moscow and Kiev. “Additional killing doesn’t profit anybody,” Fico added.
Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova stated on Sunday that she would formally ask Fico to kind a brand new authorities on Monday.
With no get together set to win a majority, Slovakia might want to kind a coalition authorities. The professional-European HLAS (Voice) get together, which took third place with 14.7%, didn’t rule out a doable alliance with SMER-SD. Fico additionally acquired congratulations on his election victory from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who stated it will “at all times [be] good to work along with a patriot.”
A victory by Fico and his get together has reportedly sparked considerations within the US. Based on Russian overseas intelligence, Washington had sought to maintain the earlier Slovakian authorities in energy.
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