Fico: Slovakia Rejects EU Council Conclusions on Ukraine (2)

Bratislava/Brussels, 19 December (TASR-correspondent) – Slovakia has for the first time refused to support European Council conclusions on Ukraine in order to avoid any association with being part of any EU "military" loan to Kiev, declared Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Friday. TASR learnt the news from its special correspondent in Brussels. "I've kept my word," said Fico after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, describing the talks as demanding. Leaders of 25 EU-member states in a joint statement called for continued work on the technical and legal aspects of the tools needed to establish a reparations loan to be financed from frozen Russian assets in the EU. Slovakia and Hungary didn't sign up to the statement. Fico stressed that the Slovak government would never agree to this initiative. "Ukraine doesn't need weapons, it needs, above all, money for reconstruction," declared Fico, pointing to several bilateral cooperation projects, such as a school for Ukrainian children in Slovakia. According to Fico, there are disagreements among member states over the use of frozen Russian assets. "[Such a plan] carries enormous risks," said the Slovak prime minister, adding that he understands Belgium's concerns, as most such assets held in the EU are located there. In Fico's view, peace in Ukraine was again not discussed at the summit. EU leaders agreed on Thursday night that the EU will provide Ukraine with a loan financed by a common debt worth €90 billion for 2026 and 2027. Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, however, negotiated exemptions. They won't join joint guarantees related to the loan and won't pay interest. Fico added that he cannot prevent other states from taking part in such support. In his view, this assistance will not strengthen Ukraine's position in peace negotiations. "That is a fatal mistake," he said. Other issues discussed at the summit included the EU's long-term budget for 2028–2034, competitiveness, European defence and security, migration and enlargement. On the budget, Fico reiterated Slovakia's stance on the need to protect farmers and on the financing of cohesion policy so that Slovakia can reduce regional disparities. "We'll have to make enormous compromises," predicted the prime minister. Apart from the European Council meeting, EU enlargement was also discussed at Wednesday's summit with Western Balkan countries, which Fico described as unsuccessful. According to him, many leaders of the 27 were absent from the main part of the talks. This, he said, "doesn't add confidence to the EU-accession process ... A lot of general talk, without any concrete promises". Fico expressed regret that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic deliberately chose not to attend the meeting. According to Fico, the EU applies double standards in the accession process. "Serbia, as a proud and sovereign country, belongs to the group that is being slowed down," he said. He described Albania and Montenegro as very well prepared for entry into the EU. "Slovakia supports enlargement to include the Western Balkan countries," he added. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final three paragraphs mf/df