President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) meets with the leader of the Progressive Slovakia political party Michal Simetsky in Kyiv, 17 January 2025. Photo: Pavlo Bakhmut / Ukrinform
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused opposition leader Michal Šimečka of “kissing Zelensky’s ring” during his visit to Kyiv on 17 January. Fico also said that the opposition is planning a coup d’état in Bratislava, referring to the experience of Euromaidan in Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reports.
Michal Šimečka, leader of the pro-European Progressive Slovakia party, led a delegation of Slovak MPs to Kyiv. Šimečka said that the purpose of the trip was to “restore the trust that Fico has undermined with his aggressive statements”. In response, the prime minister accused the opposition of conspiring and attempting to create a protest movement in Slovakia similar to Euromaidan.
“The opposition wants a coup. Especially the progressives who are trying so hard to organise a street Maidan,” Fico said in a Facebook post on 18 January.
Fico’s anti-Ukrainian rhetoric escalates
Fico, known for his pro-Russian stance, escalated his criticism of Ukraine after Russia cut off gas transit through Ukrainian territory on 1 January. He said that his government might limit aid to Ukraine and even cut off electricity supplies.
“Robert Fico is the prime minister of Slovakia, not a Ukrainian servant,” the politician said, adding that he opposes Ukraine’s membership in NATO. “Our government will never support Ukraine’s accession to NATO, because it will lead to World War III.”
Fico also expressed his intention to veto any future financial assistance to Ukraine from the European Union.
Reaction to Fico’s pro-Russian statements and policies
Fico’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December sparked outrage both in Slovakia and abroad. Mass protests swept Bratislava in early January, with thousands of demonstrators chanting: “We are not Russia!”
The pressure on the prime minister is growing. On 14 January, opposition parties announced plans to initiate a vote of no confidence in Fico’s government.
Despite the rising tensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Fico to Kyiv. The two leaders are expected to hold talks in the coming days.
Slovak government in a deadlock
Robert Fico’s policy of rapprochement with Moscow has put his government in jeopardy. At the same time, the support for pro-Ukrainian forces in the country shows that society is divided into two camps. The coming weeks could be crucial for the Slovak government, which is under pressure both at home and internationally.
