Slovakia denies joining the Coalition of the Willing supporting Ukraine

The French embassy in Bratislava announced that Slovakia had become a member of the so‑called Coalition of the Willing, a group of more than 30 states that coordinate military assistance for Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the claim, stating that Slovakia was never, is not, and will not be a member of the coalition. Fico said he personally spoke with French ambassador Nicolas Suran to request a correction, calling the report a misunderstanding. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár also denied membership, confirming that Slovakia’s ambassador in Paris attended the July 13 meeting only as an observer. Opposition politicians and the Ministry of Defence labelled the reports a hoax, while the French embassy later clarified it had not issued an official statement on Slovak membership. The dispute centers on whether Slovak officials merely observed the coalition’s talks or are formally part of the group that supports Ukraine’s defence against Russia.