Latest news with #PeterPellegrini
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine. 'Neutrality would be very beneficial for Slovakia,' he said, adding that, 'Unfortunately, such a decision is not in my hands.' Fico's comments suggested a withdrawal from NATO, but when pressed by reporters to elaborate he declined to comment. Fico would not have the authority to pull Slovakia out of the alliance, which could be prompted by a referendum and would require action by Parliament. A broad spectrum of politicians rejected the notion in reaction to his comments. NATO meets for a summit in the Netherlands on June 24-25, where the allies are due to agree a new defense spending target in line with demands by U.S. President Donald Trump. The aim is to increase the spending to 3.5% of GDP for core defense spending on tanks, warplanes, air defense, missiles and hiring extra troops. A further 1.5% would be spent on things like roads, bridges, ports and airfields. Slovakia, a NATO member since 2004, currently spends 2%. Pellegrini and most Slovakian politicians, from the government and the opposition, dismissed Fico's suggestion to become neutral. The president said that Slovakia will stay united with its allies on the spending issue at the summit. Fico's views on Russia's war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. He opposes any military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. Unlike many Western politicians, Fico has not visited Kyiv since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion more than three years ago. His government has faced vocal protests against its pro-Russian stance and other policies.
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
In Rare Stab, Slovak Leader Tells Fico to Focus on the West
Slovakia's president told Prime Minister Robert Fico to focus on maintaining the nation's Western orientation in a rare rebuke of his ally's policies. 'The West is not just one of four world directions in our foreign policy,' President Peter Pellegrini told lawmakers in an address Wednesday. 'It's the most important one for Slovakia's national interests.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Slovak PM ready to back referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he would support a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia should one be organised. Source: Slovak public broadcasting network STVR, as reported by European Pravda Details: Fico equated sanctions against Russia to a plague, claiming that they have no effect on Moscow and only harm the European economy. When asked by an STVR presenter whether he would support a referendum on lifting sanctions, Fico stated that he would back it without needing a public vote to make his decision. Quote from Fico: "If such a referendum is held, I will support it without hesitation. I speak for myself, but I will back it." Details: Fico also criticised discussions on new sanctions against Russia at a time when, in his view, initial signs of peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are emerging. Quote: "How can we be preparing a large-scale package of sanctions against the Russian Federation at a time when peace talks are underway? This only confirms that conversations I hear in the West are completely insincere." Details: In early May, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini received a petition from the far-right Slovak Renaissance Movement (SHO) calling for a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia. Pellegrini stated that he would evaluate the petition, which garnered 400,000 signatures, and decide within 30 days whether to call a referendum. For a referendum's results to be valid, at least 50% of Slovak voters must participate, with an absolute majority approving the outcome. Background: In March, Fico threatened to block further European sanctions against Russia if he views them as jeopardising the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Washington Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Slovaks rally to condemn legislation they say would harm nongovernmental groups
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Protesters rallied in Slovakia's capital and several other cities Thursday to condemn legislation approved by Parliament that they say could curb free expression and hamper the work of nongovernmental organizations. People who gathered at Bratislava's Freedom Square compared the measure to Russia's 'foreign agent' law , which has been criticized as repressive, before marching to the presidential palace to urge President Peter Pellegrini to veto the bill. 'No to the Russian law,' they chanted, and 'Slovakia is Europe.'
