Fico: I Won't Support Using Russia's Frozen Assets to Fund War in Ukraine

Bratislava, 17 December (TASR) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has said that he won't back any scheme leading to further support for the war in Ukraine at the upcoming European Council meeting, including the use of frozen Russian assets, TASR reported on Wednesday. Attending a session of the parliamentary European affairs committee ahead of the meeting to be held in Brussels on 18-19 December, Fico said that he won't vote for a single euro cent towards supporting Ukraine. "I fundamentally refuse to support anything tomorrow that would lead to money for war," stated Fico, adding that he isn't going to support the use of frozen assets if it's meant for supporting the war in Ukraine. "If it's supposed to be part of a peace agreement, then why are we spending it on weapons?" asked Fico. Instead, he said that he'd back using the frozen assets for an agreement concerning Ukraine's reconstruction, adding that Slovakia is also ready to help Ukraine on a bilateral basis. "We're prepared to help them with demining, as well as in other areas," he said, specifying that he's ready for further talks between Ukraine and Slovakia. According to Fico, providing money for the war in Ukraine means prolonging it, and the European Union has no solution to the conflict. If a country wants to give money to Ukraine for the war, it may do so, he said. "But there can't be a European plan for continuing the war," he stated. jrg/df