Fico: I Won't Support Using Russia's Frozen Assets to Fund War in Ukraine (2)

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. Fico said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic intends to boycott the European Council meeting "in protest", adding that he'll speak in favour of Serbia. "What they are doing to Serbia has nothing to do with common sense," he said in connection with Serbia's preparations for EU accession. According to Fico, the EU is in a deep crisis "even in such basic things" as its enlargement. He believes that the EU cannot punish a country for its sovereign opinions, while creating new conditions and obligations for it. Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP and member of the European affairs committee Vladimira Marcinkova warned that, according to European leaders, the European Council summit will be crucial, because if the EU doesn't help Ukraine, the country will lose financial resources in April. "It won't be able to continue defending itself, and Russia will move closer to our borders as well, to the borders of the European Union. That's why everyone is sounding the alarm, as it's very important to send out a signal of unity," she said, adding that the prime minister has shown that Slovakia will stand on the wrong side of history. Another committee member, Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'–'For the people' caucus), stated that Fico knows that there will be only two options when it comes to financing Ukraine's reconstruction – either Russia will pay for it, or Europe will. "Fico may claim that Slovakia won't give a single cent, but, at the end of the day, Europe will have to pay for it if Russia's money isn't used. Because the last thing that Slovakia needs is to have a dysfunctional and bombed-out country as its neighbour," she stressed. The opposition pointed out that the parliamentary European affairs committee was set up to oversee the prime minister's activities and stances ahead of European meetings. According to Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka, the prime minister showed contempt for Parliament and the committee by answering only what he wanted to, while staying at the committee session for just a short time. "It's us, MPs, who give him the mandate for the European Council," said Simecka, adding that he'll call for a reassessment of the committee's role. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final five paragraphs jrg/df