A Ukrainian lawmaker reacted angrily to comments from the prime minister of NATO member Slovakia, Robert Fico, claiming that amid the Russian full-scale invasion, life in Kyiv is "absolutely normal."
Fico has made statements in the past showing a pro-Russian stance, and since he took power in October, he has resisted Bratislava's support for Kyiv. During his election campaign, he vowed "not to send another bullet to Ukraine."
On Tuesday, ahead of a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, Fico appeared to be dismissive of the impact of the war in Kyiv. When asked in a news conference if he should travel to the Ukrainian capital to better understand the war with Russia, Fico said that the conflict was "localized."
"You seriously think there is war in Kyiv?" Fico said. "You are joking, please, I hope you are not being serious." He told the reporter they would find there "is normal life in the city, absolutely normal life."
Since the start of the war, 967 air alerts have sounded in Kyiv, lasting a total of 1,133 hours, Reuters reported. During the alerts, city transport is halted and passengers asked to take cover. The metro and other underground areas are also used as bomb shelters.
Fico's comments prompted Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko to post on X: "Let me tell you about a day in Kyiv."
"Today everyone woke up at 5:43 a.m. because the air raid alarm started. And then an hour later there were already the first explosions," and the air alarm ended at 8 a.m., although it was raised several times throughout the day.
"Sometimes there was a threat of a strike by ballistic weapons, then a plane carrying aeroballistic weapons took off," his post on Tuesday said. "How did the day start in Bratislava? Probably not with the sound of Russian missiles. Yet."
Others took to social media to express their anger at Fico's comments. "And we thought that (Hungarian prime minister Viktor) Orban was a radical pro-Putinist. We just hadn´t seen Slovak Prime Minister Fico," posted Jaanika Merilo.
"Russia-friendly PM's remarks land the same day Moscow bombards Ukraine's capital with missiles," posted Michael Christensen.
"On behalf of my country (Slovakia) and my fellow citizens, I would like to apologize to all Ukrainians," wrote Laura Heymans Trimaj, "He does not represent us. He is a coward."
Newsweek has contacted the Slovakian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment.
After Fico's meeting with the Ukrainian prime minister on Wednesday, Shmyhal issued a statement that they had reached an agreement that Bratislava would not block Kyiv's purchase of weapons and equipment from Slovakian companies.
His post on X said that Slovakia will support the Ukraine facility program, which could see the EU give Ukraine 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion). "Despite all the political challenges, we are developing a policy of 'new pragmatism' in our relations," he added.
In November, Fico's government rejected a $43 million aid package to Ukraine. This month, Fico, criticized fellow NATO members in an op-ed in the Slovak newspaper Pravda.sk for its "failed strategy" against Russia's aggression.
"Russia responded to the security situation and Ukraine's pressure to join NATO by violating international law, using military force without an international mandate," Fico wrote. "Big countries often do that."
On Tuesday, NATO announced a 1.1 billion-euro deal to produce hundreds of thousands of 155 mm artillery rounds, which is likely to yield about 220,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, some of which will go to Ukraine.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ... Read more
