Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has refused to condemn a deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 civilians—including two children—prompting sharp criticism from allies and domestic leaders. Speaking at a press conference in Košice, Fico dismissed questions on the attack with “Next question,” later claiming he lacked sufficient information to comment. His silence, starkly at odds with the swift condemnations from leaders across the EU and NATO, is fuelling concern over Slovakia’s commitment to democratic values and its alignment with international norms amid escalating Russian aggression.
In the wake of one of the deadliest Russian missile strikes on Ukraine this year, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has drawn sharp domestic and international criticism for refusing to condemn the attack. While world leaders united in outrage over the bombardment of the city of Sumy—which claimed at least 34 lives, including two children—Fico chose deflection over decisiveness, citing a lack of information and avoiding media scrutiny.
Fico’s evasive response came during a press conference in Košice, where he was addressing unrelated domestic policy matters. When asked to comment on the attack, he initially replied, “Next question,” before later stating: “I condemn all killing, but I don’t have enough information to just say anything.” This calculated ambiguity contrasts starkly with the immediate and forceful condemnations from EU and NATO allies, including Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
While Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and key members of the cabinet—including Parliamentary Speaker Richard Raši and Education Minister Tomáš Drucker—joined the international chorus of condemnation, Fico remained conspicuously silent. The liberal opposition party Progresívne Slovensko openly challenged the Prime Minister’s silence, urging both Fico and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár to take a clear stance. Party leader Michal Šimečka accused the government of “burying its head in the sand” while civilians are killed and international norms violated.
Fico’s silence on the Sumy attack is consistent with a broader pattern of detachment from Ukraine-related diplomacy. Earlier in the year, he declined an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Kyiv, instead prioritising domestic events in eastern Slovakia. Although he previously indicated that a meeting with Zelenskyy was being arranged, he has since reversed this position, now insisting that “no such meeting is on the agenda.”
In a further distancing move, Fico redefined his diplomatic counterpart not as President Zelenskyy but as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He justified this by criticising Zelenskyy’s decision to halt gas transit through Ukraine, claiming it had significantly harmed Slovakia and the wider European Union. “I never had any ambition to meet President Zelenskyy,” Fico said, effectively disavowing prior statements suggesting openness to high-level talks.
Fico’s reluctance to engage on the Sumy tragedy did not end with foreign policy. When asked about a separate controversy over a proposed transactional tax—an issue recently criticised by President Pellegrini—he again dodged the question, responding tersely: “Next question.”
The Prime Minister’s refusal to address the Sumy attack or articulate a clear position on Russian aggression is drawing increasing scrutiny at home and abroad. In a moment when clarity and alignment with international norms are critical, Fico’s ambiguity raises troubling questions about Slovakia’s current foreign policy trajectory and its commitment to democratic values and collective European security.
Source: Jana Ogurčáková | Korzár Košice
