--- title: "Fico: Slovakia refused to participate in EU military credit package for Ukraine" description: "Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced Bratislava's refusal to participate in the mechanism providing Ukraine with an additional 70 billion euros in loans, calling it predominantly military." date: 2026-10-17T08:51:50.711Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fico-slovakia-refuses-eu-loan-package-ukraine tags: [slovakia, robert-fico, ukraine, eu, military-aid, europe] author: "Alexander Buran, Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Fico: Slovakia refused to participate in EU military credit package for Ukraine ![Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico speaking against EU military credits](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/fico-slovakia-otkaz-paket-kreditov-ukraina/fico-slovakia-otkaz-paket-kreditov-ukraina-1.webp) ## Key Points - Slovakia refused to participate in the mechanism providing Ukraine with an additional 70 billion euros in loans until 2027, calling it predominantly military. - Fico confirmed that Bratislava will not allocate funds from the defense budget for weapons and military equipment, and Hungary holds the same position. - Instead of military aid, Slovakia announces the continuation of humanitarian, educational, and infrastructural support for Ukraine. - The Prime Minister criticized the summit for insufficient discussion of peace initiatives and warned of the risks of linking the 2028–2034 EU budget to Ukraine's financing. On October 16, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Ukraine's request to the European Union for an additional 70 billion euros in loans until 2027 is predominantly military in nature, and confirmed Bratislava's categorical refusal to participate in this mechanism. According to the head of government, the majority of the loan requested by President Zelenskyy is intended for military purposes, while the rest goes to financing the functioning of the Ukrainian state. The Slovak leader emphasized that his country will not provide Kyiv with weapons, military equipment, or financial resources from its own defense budget and military reserves. ### Bratislava and Budapest's Position Fico confirmed Slovakia's unchanging position of refusing to participate in military and financial aid packages for Ukraine, and noted that Hungary adheres to the same line. At the same time, he emphasized that the non-inclusion of Slovakia and Hungary in the new financing mechanism will not prevent other EU member states from providing financial support to Kyiv. According to the prime minister, the refusal statement reflects the country's consistent position: earlier, Bratislava already refused to participate in a 90 billion dollar EU loan, confirming its right to withdraw from this financial mechanism. ### Humanitarian Alternative Instead of participating in military crediting, Slovakia, according to Fico, demonstrates solidarity with Ukraine through humanitarian and non-lethal assistance. Bratislava implements projects in education, road infrastructure, and energy infrastructure, which the government considers the most important form of support for the Ukrainian people. Thus, Slovakia separates the military component of assistance from civilian and infrastructure programs. ### Summit Criticism and Peace Talks Issue The Prime Minister also criticized the summit for insufficient discussion of peace initiatives and the cessation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Fico emphasized that Slovakia does not support either Ukraine or Russia in this conflict, but advocates for the principle of peace negotiations. This position, according to him, determines the general foreign policy vector of Bratislava regarding the conflict. ### EU Budget for 2028–2034 Separately, Fico commented on the prospects of the EU budget for the 2028–2034 period. He estimated that it will be difficult for member states to reach an agreement by the end of the year, as European Council President António Costa suggested. The Slovak leader warned that linking negotiations on the future EU budget with the issue of funding Ukraine is risky and should not be made dependent in a way that threatens the achievement of an agreement on the Union's next financial program. ## Accounts differ ### Nature and source of the aid package (EU or NATO) - **Slovak government (Fico's statement, basis of the article):** This refers to Ukraine's request to the European Union for an additional 70 billion euros in loans until 2027. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/slovakia-tu-choi-tham-gia-goi-vien-tro-moi-cua-eu-danh-cho-ukraine)) - **news.mail.ru:** This refers to the upcoming NATO aid package, under which allies direct about 70 billion euros annually to Kyiv's military needs. ([news.mail.ru](https://news.mail.ru/society/71394315/)) - **business-gazeta.ru:** This refers to a new NATO military aid package for Ukraine amounting to 70 billion euros. ([business-gazeta.ru](https://www.business-gazeta.ru/news/706629)) *Where they agree:* Slovakia refuses to participate in a military aid package for Ukraine amounting to about 70 billion euros and will not allocate funds from the defense budget. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Словакия отказывается участвовать в новом пакете помощи ЕС для Украины.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/slovakia-tu-choi-tham-gia-goi-vien-tro-moi-cua-eu-danh-cho-ukraine) - Primary source: Fico's statement on October 16 regarding the refusal to participate in the 70 billion euro mechanism, its predominantly military nature, Hungary's position, the humanitarian alternative, and comments on the 2028–2034 EU budget. - [Словакия не будет участвовать в пакете финпомощи для Украины](https://1prime.ru/20260624/ukraina-871042578.html) - Confirms Slovakia's refusal to participate in the financial aid package for Ukraine. - [Фицо: Словакия не будет участвовать в пакете помощи НАТО для Украины](https://news.mail.ru/society/71394315/) - Confirms Slovakia's refusal and readiness for humanitarian aid; attributes the NATO package and the amount of about 70 billion euros annually. - [Пеллегрини: Словакия и еще несколько стран НАТО не поддержат пакет помощи Украине](https://www.business-gazeta.ru/news/706629) - Confirms the refusal of several NATO countries, including Slovakia, from a 70 billion euro military aid package. ## FAQ ### Why is Slovakia refusing to participate in the aid package for Ukraine? According to Robert Fico, Ukraine's request for an additional 70 billion euros in loans is predominantly military in nature, so Bratislava will not allocate funds from the defense budget for weapons and military equipment. ### What kind of assistance does Slovakia continue to provide to Ukraine? Slovakia announces the continuation of humanitarian and non-lethal assistance, as well as the implementation of projects in education, road, and energy infrastructure. ### What did Fico say about the EU budget for 2028–2034? He estimated that reaching an agreement by the end of the year will be difficult and warned that linking EU budget negotiations to Ukraine's financing is risky.