Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Rejects NATO Ukraine Funding, Accuses EU of Russo‑phobia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico used the NATO summit in Ankara (July 7‑8 2026) to announce that Slovakia will not participate in the alliance’s new financing mechanism for Ukraine. He said Bratislava will continue only humanitarian aid, refusing any arms shipments or direct military‑financial contributions, and urged that the NATO statement not restrict member states’ autonomy.

Fico also criticised the European Union, claiming that European elites build their politics on “confrontation and russo‑phobia” and that the continent’s current crisis stems from a decay of Western values. He argued that Europe’s survival depends on cooperation between East and West and positioned Slovakia as a bridge between the two. The remarks were made during the celebration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, in a closed ceremony at the ruins of Devin Castle.

Other NATO leaders, including Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, were involved in a separate dispute over Czechoslovakia’s delegation, but the core story centers on Fico’s stance toward Ukraine aid and his broader critique of EU policy.