As Europe scrambles to secure Ukraine’s future, Slovakia’s top officials are doing nothing. Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Peter Pellegrini, and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok not only failed to react to a crisis that shook the continent, but are actively working to block Slovakia from aiding Ukraine altogether. While leaders across Europe reaffirmed their commitment to Kyiv after Donald Trump’s tense meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Fico stayed silent for twelve hours, Pellegrini for even longer, and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and Parliamentary Speaker Peter Žiga did not react at all. When Fico finally spoke, he rejected NATO’s deterrence strategy, dismissed military support for Ukraine, and instead advocated for the resumption of Russian gas transit.
Meanwhile, Šutaj Eštok is pushing for a parliamentary resolution to formally prohibit Slovakia from providing any aid to Ukraine, ensuring that Slovakia is one of the only European countries to abandon its eastern neighbour. As Keir Starmer, Justin Trudeau, and Petr Fiala met in London to discuss Europe’s next steps, Fico was not even invited. In stark contrast, Czech President Petr Pavel declared that peace dictated by an aggressor is capitulation, while Slovakia’s leaders remained passive, indifferent, and absent. If Parliament passes the proposed resolution, Slovakia will cement its position as NATO’s weakest link, sending a message to Moscow that it is unwilling to resist Russian influence. In a moment when European unity is critical, Slovakia is making itself a liability to its allies—and a gift to the Kremlin.
As European leaders scrambled to reassure their nations following Donald Trump’s tense meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Slovakia’s leadership did nothing. While key European figures swiftly reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, Robert Fico, Peter Pellegrini, and Matúš Šutaj Eštok displayed not only an astonishing lack of urgency but also a level of detachment that borders on indifference. Their actions—or rather, inactions—are not an exception but a pattern, reflecting Slovakia’s increasing detachment from NATO and the European Union at a time when collective security is under threat.
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s long-time populist prime minister, remained silent for nearly twelve hours after the crisis unfolded. Peter Pellegrini, the country’s newly elected president and a close ally of Fico, delayed his response until Saturday morning, issuing a vague, meaningless statement. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and Parliamentary Speaker Peter Žiga, both senior figures in Fico’s governing coalition, did not respond at all. Their inaction contrasted sharply with the swift and decisive reactions of leaders such as Donald Tusk, Emmanuel Macron, Pedro Sánchez, and Petr Pavel, who immediately expressed solidarity with Ukraine.
The lack of urgency from Slovakia’s leadership was no accident. It was a deliberate display of detachment from European security discussions, reinforcing the perception that Fico’s government is uninterested in playing a role in shaping regional stability. As European nations reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine and strategised how to fill the gap left by waning U.S. support, Slovakia remained on the sidelines, absent from critical conversations.
Fico’s Pro-Russian Position and Šutaj Eštok’s Push for a Parliamentary Ban on Aid
When Fico finally addressed the issue, he made his position clear: Slovakia would provide no military or financial assistance to Ukraine. “If others do, we will respect that,” he stated, but Slovakia itself would not contribute. He dismissed NATO’s deterrence strategy as “unrealistic” and announced that at the upcoming European Council summit, he would push for an immediate ceasefire and advocate for the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. This position, aligning closely with Russian interests, placed Slovakia further at odds with its European partners.
While Fico’s position was expected, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Slovakia’s interior minister and leader of the coalition partner Hlas, took an even more radical stance. On Sunday, he proposed a parliamentary resolution that would explicitly prohibit Slovakia from assisting Ukraine in any way. He suggested that Parliament could vote on the matter as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, ensuring that Fico would be legally bound to block aid before attending the upcoming European summit. If passed, Slovakia would become one of the only European countries to formally renounce support for Ukraine, a move that could further isolate the country from its allies.
As Slovakia moves to distance itself from European security efforts, the rest of the continent is taking the opposite approach. The uncertainty over U.S. aid to Ukraine prompted Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, to convene an emergency summit in London. Leaders such as Justin Trudeau and Petr Fiala met to coordinate a European-led effort to sustain Ukraine. Fico was neither invited nor considered relevant—an indication of how quickly Slovakia has alienated itself from serious security discussions.
Beyond its diplomatic consequences, this move undermines Slovakia’s own security. If Russia dismantles Ukraine’s sovereignty, Slovakia—a bordering country with historical ties to Russia—becomes increasingly vulnerable. The belief that neutrality will shield Slovakia is dangerously naive. Even Fico’s own supporters would not benefit from Russian tanks rolling through Ukraine unchecked.
The contrast between Slovakia and its closest neighbour, the Czech Republic, is striking. Within hours of the crisis, Petr Pavel, the Czech president and a retired NATO general, declared that his country stood “behind Ukraine more than ever” and called for a broad coalition to reinforce its defence. By Saturday, he warned that “peace dictated by the aggressor amounts to capitulation,” making it clear that Russia cannot be allowed to set the terms of peace. Slovakia’s response, in contrast, was delayed, vague, and non-committal. Instead of strengthening its position within Europe, its leaders remained passive, indifferent, and preoccupied with their own political calculations.
Slovakia’s Choice: Stand with Europe or Stand Alone
At this defining moment, Slovakia faces a choice: stand with its allies or isolate itself further. While other nations strengthen their security posture, Bratislava is withdrawing, leaving its fate increasingly in the hands of external forces. Should Parliament pass the resolution banning aid to Ukraine, Slovakia will cement its status as NATO’s weakest link. Worse, it may signal to Moscow that Slovakia is unwilling to resist Russian influence, increasing its vulnerability.
This crisis has exposed more than a failure of communication—it has revealed a dangerous shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy, one that risks isolating the country at a time when unity is essential. The government’s inaction in the face of escalating tensions has not only weakened its standing in Europe but placed Slovakia’s long-term security in jeopardy. While the rest of the continent braces for uncertainty, Slovakia’s leaders remain passive, indifferent, and alarmingly detached from reality. Whether this strategy is sustainable remains to be seen, but the risks are undeniable. In an era where the stakes could not be higher, Slovakia’s reluctance to act may come at a heavy cost.
Source: Monika Tódová | Denník N
