Slovakia’s new government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has rejected a plan to provide Ukraine with a military aid package that was approved by the previous government.
Fico, whose Smer-SD party won elections in October, campaigned to end military aid to Ukraine and has followed through on the promise. His government nixed the weapons package for Ukraine at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the military aid package included 140 KUB air defense system rockets, over 5,000 pieces of 125 mm cannon ammunition, and 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
Slovakia had provided significant support for Ukraine in the past, including Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets. The shipment made Slovakia only the second NATO country after Poland to give warplanes to Ukraine.
Fico has also criticized sanctions on Russia, and his government could make it more difficult to impose more. Up until this point, Hungary was the only EU nation that would work to stall or water down the bloc’s sanctions targeting Russia.
Fico’s election is one of many signs that support for the proxy war in Ukraine is waning in the West. As it’s become clear Ukraine’s counteroffensive has failed, and Ukraine’s top commander has acknowledged the war is a “stalemate,” Western officials have finally broached the idea of peace talks with Ukraine.
Source: AntiWar.
