Kiev’s backers ‘tired’ of peace – EU country leader

Some European nations are stoking a conflict between NATO and Russia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused other EU country leaders of being apparently “tired and bored of 80 years of peace”, and accused them of apparently attempting to trigger a direct NATO-Russia clash.

Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist who disagreed with the PM's opposition to arming Kiev, blasted the West's approach to the conflict, during an interview published by his Smer party on Sunday, claiming it poses a danger to world peace.

Whereas dozens of countries backed a call for ceasefire in Gaza, “no joint call … for an immediate end to the war and for peace” was organized concerning Ukraine, he lamented.

According to Fico, his attempt to initiate a comparable declaration at the European Council has failed. “It seems that the leaders of some countries in Europe are already tired and bored of 80 years of peace.”

“Artificially provoking a conflict between one of the NATO member states and Russia is easy. History gives us thousands of examples of how to do it. And what happens then?” he questioned, warning that those thinking they could control such a clash are gravely mistaken.

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A long-time critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, Fico halted Slovakia’s military assistance to the country upon returning to office in October 2023. “I will not send one bullet,” he proclaimed, while criticizing EU sanctions on Russia.

Prior to a key NATO summit in June he suggested that Slovakia would be better off as a neutral country. He has previously vowed that Ukraine will never join NATO “on my watch,” explaining that Kiev’s membership in the US-led military bloc “would be a good basis for a World War III.”

READ MORE: Fico shooter protested suspension of Ukraine military aid – Slovak interior minister

Fico has also been critical of the EU’s and NATO’s push to ramp up military spending, calling new proposed targets for his country – which would amount to almost a fifth of its budget – “absolutely absurd.”

Moscow has consistently condemned Western support for Ukraine as prolonging the conflict and making NATO a direct participant in the fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also described NATO as a “hostile” bloc pursuing rampant militarization in Europe.