Simecka: Fico's Cabinet Not Developing Partnerships with Our Closest Allies

Bratislava, March 4 (TASR) - Europe and quality and strong partnerships with the country's closest allies, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, are crucial for a just peace as well as the security of Slovakia, but Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) government isn't developing any of this, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party Michal Simecka stated on Tuesday in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine. "Donald Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine. Today, Europe is absolutely key for a just peace, but also for Slovakia's security. We need good and strong partnerships with our closest allies - the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, France, the UK... But Robert Fico's government isn't developing any of this. It's quarreling with all of them, it doesn't care about any of them, it's even threatening to block joint European decisions," said Simecka in a statement sent to TASR by the PS media department. The PS chief criticised the fact that Slovakia isn't "sitting at the table". "Things are happening without us, we're totally isolated, left at the mercy of Putin and Trump. There is only one way to put it - Fico has betrayed Slovakia's interests," he stressed. According to foreign media, Trump on Monday (March 3) ordered a temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine, stating that it can be resumed after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convinces Trump that he is genuinely interested in peace talks with Russia. The media cited an unnamed White House official, adding that the Trump administration's decision concerns the financing of new arms supplies to Ukraine. Fico said on Monday that if Russia and the United States want to create some kind of a backstop, they should be allowed to communicate and then at some point Ukraine and Europe can join. The premier also announced that the government agrees with increasing the defence capabilities of the European Union and Europe as a whole. However, he doesn't agree with military or financial support for Ukraine. am/df