20 Mar, 20:18

Slovakia insists on free will principle for EU military aid to Kiev — PM

Robert Fico noted that the republic will not send a single cent to arm Ukraine

BRUSSELS, March 20. /TASS/. At the recent EU summit, Slovakia insisted on the principle of voluntariness for member states in providing military aid to Ukraine, the republic's Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a video address to his fellow citizens on his Facebook page (banned in Russia, owned by Meta Corporation, recognized as extremist in the country).

"We insisted that participation in this kind of fundraising [of EU money for military aid to Ukraine] must be voluntary. Otherwise, we would have vetoed [the initiative by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas], as no one can force Slovakia to spend €250 million from its budget to the detriment of priority domestic needs to buy weapons for Ukraine," the prime minister said.

He noted that the republic will not send a single cent to arm Ukraine. According to Fico, Kallas's plan calls for the EU to allocate €20-40 billion for this purpose; however, member states hold differing positions on the proposal.

Meanwhile, Fico emphasized that all EU countries are united in their view on the need to strengthen Europe’s security.

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Ukraine Slovakia

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