Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that he’ll “by no means” settle for cash from Kiev
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Ukrainian chief Vladimir Zelensky of making an attempt to bribe him €500 million to commit Bratislava to supporting Kiev’s bid to hitch NATO.
Fico made the revelation at a press convention in Brussels on Thursday, shortly after his behind-closed-doors assembly with Zelensky on the sidelines of an EU chief’s summit.
The prime minister advised journalists that Bratislava may contemplate “reciprocal measures” after Ukraine refused to increase its fuel transit cope with Russia, which is about to run out on the finish of the yr.
Ukraine cited the continued battle as its purpose, elevating considerations in Slovakia, which depends on Russian fuel provides transiting by way of Ukraine. Fico emphasised the necessity for various options to keep away from a fuel disaster.
He recalled that in their talks, the Ukrainian chief declined to permit the transit of gas, as a substitute providing “absurd” proposals to settle the fuel subject.
Fico claimed that, amongst different issues, Zelensky “requested me if I might vote for NATO membership [of Ukraine] if he gave me €500 million from Russian property” frozen within the West after the outbreak of the battle between Moscow and Kiev.
The Slovak PM stated that he advised the Ukrainian chief right away that he would “by no means” conform to such a suggestion.
“You realize my opinion on Ukraine’s membership in NATO, and it’s unusual that he requested me such a query as a result of he is aware of very nicely that Ukraine’s invitation to NATO is totally unrealistic,” he pressured.
Ukrainian opposition MP Artyom Dmitruk, who reportedly fled the nation earlier this yr fearing prosecution, stated that Zelensky has once more “disgraced” Ukraine in entrance of the entire world by making an attempt to bribe Fico.
“I’m greater than assured that the discuss may have been not concerning the cash from the ‘Russian property,’ however merely concerning the money that Ze[lensky] may have introduced in a suitcase,” Dmitruk wrote on Telegram on Friday.
Moscow, which views NATO as hostile and vigorously opposes its eastward growth, highlighted Kiev’s aspirations to hitch the US-led bloc as being among the many major causes for launching its navy operation in February 2022.
Nonetheless, Kiev saved insisting on its NATO membership all through the battle, calling it the one method of deterring Russia. In early December, Zelensky stated that he would ask US President Joe Biden to subject a proper invitation to the bloc for Kiev earlier than his successor Donald Trump, who’s skeptical about prolonging American assist to Ukraine, is inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
French newspaper Le Monde reported earlier that not solely Slovakia, however such member states because the US, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Slovenia and Spain are at present in opposition to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.
