SaS: Focus for Slovakia's Government at NATO Summit Only Ukraine

Bratislava, 7 July (TASR) – The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has warned that Ukraine is the only issue of concern at the NATO summit for the governing coalition, and the public hasn't been informed about Slovakia’s position on increasing defence spending or on launching a defence industry. "We've learned that the only item for this governing coalition at the summit is Ukraine, as if no other issues were being discussed there, and we know nothing about those [others]," said SaS MP Juraj Krupa at a press conference on Tuesday. Krupa added that Slovakia doesn't know what President Peter Pellegrini's stance is on any other topic to be discussed at the summit. "Serious issues concerning global security and defence will be addressed. This issue should also resonate here in Slovakia," the MP emphasised. He criticised the president for attending the summit with a rubber stamp, ready to agree with everything. According to Krupa, the summit will also address the "evident" threat posed by Russia, which Slovakia's top constitutional officials are aware of but ignore. "We don't know what was agreed on Monday, but the president is going there with an empty message from Robert Fico," the MP added. Slovakia will support the conclusions of the NATO summit, while it remains the case that it won't take part in further financial contributions or loans intended for military aid to Ukraine, said Pellegrini after discussing the summit on Monday (6 July) with Prime Minister Robert Fico and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (both Smer-SD). According to Pellegrini, all three politicians agreed on a decision to support the summit conclusions. The NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, will begin on Tuesday and last two days. It will be hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. mf/df