Ukraine says Slovakia will not block Kyiv’s military purchases from Slovak companies

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Slovakia will not block Ukraine’s military purchases from Slovak companies, the Ukrainian prime minister said on Wednesday.

“We have reached agreement with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on a number of important issues. The Slovak government will not block the purchase of weapons and equipment by Ukraine from Slovak companies,” Denys Shmyhal said on X.

Providing details of their meeting in the city of Uzhhorod located on Ukraine’s border with Slovakia, Shmyhal said that Bratislava will also support the Ukraine Facility program, envisaging the provision of €50 billion ($54.6 billion) by the EU for Kyiv.

“Despite all the political challenges, we are developing a policy of ‘new pragmatism’ in our relations,” he added.

In a Telegram post, the Ukrainian prime minister said that Fico assured him of his full support for Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

Following their meeting, Shmyhal announced that they signed a joint statement to strengthen their bilateral relations “based on mutual trust and respect.”

According to Shmyhal, the joint statement confirmed Slovakia’s readiness for further cooperation aimed at respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The statement also expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace formula, which consists of 10 conditions and was laid out at the 2022 G-20 summit held in Indonesia, with its final step being signing a peace accord to end the Russia-Ukraine war.