FICO: NO MORE GIFTS TO KYIV

BRATISLAVA, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA/ - Bratislava is refusing to participate in a new major financial assistance package for Kyiv, which Ukraine will never repay, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

"Slovakia will not participate in this mechanism. These are not loans, but gifts. Ukraine will never repay any part of that money," Fico stressed.

He said the EU was now considering a new loan, noting that Slovakia would not prevent other EU member states from providing additional funds but would seek an exemption for itself.

The Slovak prime minister pointed out that the existing EU loan package worth 90 billion euros had already proved insufficient. The amount was intended to cover Ukraine's needs for this year and next, with 60 billion euros allocated for military needs and 30 billion euros for budgetary support.

Under Fico's leadership, Slovakia has remained sceptical about aid to Ukraine and the country’s efforts to join NATO.

The Slovak government has blocked arms deliveries from state stockpiles and has consistently called for peace negotiations.