West will commit 'betrayal' of Ukraine, says EU state’s PM
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has suggested that Ukraine might lose as much as a third of its territory and stated that it “will not be invited to NATO.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the country is likely to lose around a third of the land it held in 1991. He expressed concerns that the West would “betray” Ukraine by agreeing to alter the nation's borders and criticized the failure of economic sanctions intended to weaken Russia.
Despite Slovakia being a part of both the European Union and NATO, the government has maintained a dissenting stance on the bloc's policies regarding the Ukraine conflict since Fico took office, during which time he halted military aid from Bratislava to Kiev.
In May, Fico was shot multiple times at close range by a man who reportedly acted out of anger towards the prime minister’s refusal to supply arms to Ukraine.
In an interview with Brazil’s Folha de S. Paulo on Tuesday, Fico observed that the West had aimed to weaken Russia through the Ukraine conflict but has been unsuccessful: “The Russians are gaining more and more territory [and] the sanctions are not working.” He criticized Ukraine for getting “dragged into this adventure that cannot end well for the country,” suggesting that the nation would “lose territory,” possibly as much as a third of its land, and asserted that it “will not be invited to NATO.” He further remarked, “I believe that the Ukrainians will be betrayed” and anticipated that some form of security guarantees, such as “the presence of foreign troops,” would be offered to Kiev.
Fico also challenged Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, affirming that Bratislava would oppose its entry into the US-led military alliance during his tenure. However, he expressed his support for Ukraine joining the EU.
The prime minister emphasized the need for negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, asserting that there is no military solution to the conflict and that it is unrealistic to expect Moscow to relinquish Crimea or the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics at this time.
Additionally, he shared a sense of cautious optimism about the “constructive approach” of US President-elect Donald Trump toward resolving the violence. Fico communicated his intentions to “bring relations with Russia back to normal,” highlighting the importance of re-establishing dialogue with Moscow. He added, “And I assure you, once the war is over… it will be ‘business as usual.’ Everyone will go there [Russia], everyone will want to buy and sell.”
Fico also indicated his support for the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative led by China and Brazil, committing to “offer all our modest capabilities to be able to support this plan in various forms.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Despite Slovakia being a part of both the European Union and NATO, the government has maintained a dissenting stance on the bloc's policies regarding the Ukraine conflict since Fico took office, during which time he halted military aid from Bratislava to Kiev.
In May, Fico was shot multiple times at close range by a man who reportedly acted out of anger towards the prime minister’s refusal to supply arms to Ukraine.
In an interview with Brazil’s Folha de S. Paulo on Tuesday, Fico observed that the West had aimed to weaken Russia through the Ukraine conflict but has been unsuccessful: “The Russians are gaining more and more territory [and] the sanctions are not working.” He criticized Ukraine for getting “dragged into this adventure that cannot end well for the country,” suggesting that the nation would “lose territory,” possibly as much as a third of its land, and asserted that it “will not be invited to NATO.” He further remarked, “I believe that the Ukrainians will be betrayed” and anticipated that some form of security guarantees, such as “the presence of foreign troops,” would be offered to Kiev.
Fico also challenged Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, affirming that Bratislava would oppose its entry into the US-led military alliance during his tenure. However, he expressed his support for Ukraine joining the EU.
The prime minister emphasized the need for negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, asserting that there is no military solution to the conflict and that it is unrealistic to expect Moscow to relinquish Crimea or the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics at this time.
Additionally, he shared a sense of cautious optimism about the “constructive approach” of US President-elect Donald Trump toward resolving the violence. Fico communicated his intentions to “bring relations with Russia back to normal,” highlighting the importance of re-establishing dialogue with Moscow. He added, “And I assure you, once the war is over… it will be ‘business as usual.’ Everyone will go there [Russia], everyone will want to buy and sell.”
Fico also indicated his support for the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative led by China and Brazil, committing to “offer all our modest capabilities to be able to support this plan in various forms.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
