Slovakia’s Ambivalent Stance: A Complex Ally for Ukraine Amid Pro-Russian Inclinations

Slovakia is a small European country with a population of 5.5 million people and is the Ukrainian closest EU member neighbor. Before the full-scale invasion, this country had a strong pro-Ukrainian position. In 2014 Slovakia deemed Russian aggression against Ukraine and after February 24, 2022, Slovakia joined the alliance of EU countries which became strong Ukrainian supporters.

Slovakia`s military aid for Ukraine

Slovakia gave Ukraine helicopters M-17, ammunition for the Grad anti-aircraft missile system, Zuzana 2 howitzers, infantry fighting vehicles, anti-tank complexes, artillery shells, other ammunition and equipment, and fuel. Slovakia became the first to provide Kyiv with S-300 air defense systems. With a total cost of around 69 million euros, Slovakia became the leader of this type of anti-aircraft system among suppliers. Also, Slovakia supplied Ukraine with Soviet-type fighter jets Mig-29. In the first year of Ukrainian resistance against Russia, Slovakia provided military aid to Ukraine for 10% of its defense budget.

In total, Slovakia has provided Ukraine with military equipment worth almost 700 million euros so far.

Robert`s Fico victory and his pro-Russain views

The pro-Ukrainian vector of Slovakia was jeopardized by the victory of Robert`s Fitzo party in October 2023, Fico became the Prime Minister of Slovakia for the fourth time. Before Fitzo pledged that, if elected, Slovakia would halt its military aid to Ukraine. He is famous for his pro-Russian views and his loyalty to Vladimir Putin. Since 2014, Fitzoo has dismissed EU sanctions against Russia as ineffective, framing them as a threat to Slovakia’s economy. He has also controversially claimed that the war in Ukraine began because "Ukrainian Nazis and fascists started killing Russians in Donbas."

"I believe that the war in Ukraine did not begin a year and two months ago, but began in 2014 when Ukrainian fascists killed people of Russian nationality in Ukraine. [...] I still believe that the Americans are fighting with Russia through Ukrainian soldiers," Fico said.

Also, Fico stated his doubts about Russian atrocities in Bucha, published secret data on the transportation of S-300 complexes through Slovakia on his Social media, and promised to block Ukraine from joining NATO.

"It is naive to think that Russia will leave Crimea. It is naive to think that Russia will leave the territory it controls. So explain to me why to kill? Why don't we force the opposing sides, using the authority of the EU and the US, to sit down and find some kind of compromise, that would guarantee security for Ukraine? You know my opinion, I am fundamentally against Ukraine's membership in NATO, it would mean the third world war," said Fico.

On October 30, 2024, Fico appeared on Russian TV in one of the Russian propagandistic talk shows where he pleased the host of the show with pro-Russian statements. He claimed that the EU needs to restore its relationship with Russia and can not exist without Russia. Also, he said that he would like to meet Vladimir Putin on Victory day in May 2025.

"It would be a great honor for me", said Fico.

Robert's Fico position, his statement, and the direction he wants to incline Slovakia means that he is one of the biggest Russian propaganda mouthpieces in Europe.

Russian propaganda in Slovakia

According to numerous polls, the views of many Slovak citizens are significantly shaped by the Russian propaganda influence. Globsec’s findings paint a concerning picture, placing Slovakia at the forefront of spreading propaganda narratives. An alarming 51% of Slovak citizens believe that the West and Ukraine are primarily to blame for the Russian-Ukrainian war—a rate higher than that of other surveyed countries, including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. After the whole world learned about the atrocities of Russians in Bucha one poll indicated that 37% of Slovaks continued to consider Russia as the main strategic partner.

A major issue in Slovakia is that misinformation or pro-Russian narratives spread particularly through the support of so-called alternative media. This information war with Russia risks being lost not only within Slovakia but across the EU as a whole. In general, Slovak society and the state are largely unprepared for hybrid threats from Russia, often merely observing rather than actively countering them. Slovakia has a strong “fifth column,” as agents of the Russian Federation, conspiracy media, and well-funded Russian trolls operate extensively in the country. Additionally, some politicians and organizations also show support for Russia.

Besides Prime Minister Robert Fico another influential figure promoting pro-Russian narratives is the former high-ranking politician and ex-head of the Supreme Court of Slovakia, Štefan Harabin. He was a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election in Slovakia. Harabin is now spreading Russian propaganda, including confirmation that Russia is not an aggressor under Article 51 of the UN Charter. This information is actively distributed on the Internet. In his video, Harabin cites two arguments from which he allegedly concludes that Russia had the right to attack Ukraine: Article 51 of the UN Charter and the decision of the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague dated February 2, 2024, which allegedly observes that Russia is not an aggressor . . Harabin claims: "The Russian Federation used Article 51 of the UN Charter. This is an article that allows a special military operation to be carried out in self-defense." It also shows that the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague "did not recognize Russia as an aggressor at the request of Ukraine." Of course, these confirmations were simplified.

In the context of the perception of propaganda messages, the opinions of the population of Slovakia are divided. Young people, as well as residents of large cities with a higher level of employment and education, mostly support Ukraine and opposition political forces, are "pro-Western". The civic initiative of the Slovaks, during which they collected 4 million euros for ammunition for Ukraine in the spring of 2024, is unprecedented.

But at the same time, a significant part of Slovaks, a large part of residents of villages and towns are supporters of the parties and their allies which have clear pro-Russian positions and are more receptive to the messages of Russian propaganda, especially if it is relayed by representatives of the current government.

One of the reasons for the perception of Russian disinformation in Slovakia is the historical sentiment related to Russia. Slovakia emerged as a state only in the 20th century. The national state movement led by Ludovit Stur began at the end of the 19th century when Slovakia was part of Austria-Hungary and Russia positioned itself as the main defender of Slavism. A large number of people in Slovakia had no idea what Russia was but associated their best thoughts with it.

The next period of the Second World War and after - when there was Soviet propaganda, Soviet films, and Soviet names at every step. In the minds of the older generation, such a thing has taken root that the USSR and its successor, Russia, are the guarantors of the existence of Slovakia.

Argument between Ukraine and Slovakia

There is a dependence of Slovakia on Russian oil. Slovakia along with Hungary and Checz Republic as countries without access to the sea received an exception from pan-European sanctions, which embargoed Russian oil, and continued to import it through the pipeline "Druzhba", which passes through the territory of Ukraine. This oil is the production of Lukoil, the company currently under sanctions in Ukraine. Slovakia imports approximately 450 thousand tons of oil each month.

The partial ban on the transit of Russian oil through the territory of Ukraine quite outraged the EU countries most dependent on it: Hungary and Slovakia.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed concerns to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal about the potential impacts of Ukrainian sanctions against Lukoil, warning that these measures could disrupt Slovakia’s diesel fuel supply to Ukraine.

Following Fico's concerns, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak criticized Ukraine's actions as “irresponsible,” highlighting that such steps “pose significant risks.”

On July 24, 2024, Slovakia’s newly elected president, Peter Pellegrini, issued a sharp rebuke of Kyiv’s approach. He emphasized Slovakia’s support, noting that the country not only reverses gas flows to Ukraine but also, like Hungary, supplies electricity.

“If this situation is not addressed, we will be compelled to respond,” Pellegrini stated

Ukraine’s motivation for intensifying sanctions against Lukoil is clear: to limit Russia’s revenue streams. According to the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research, Russia earns nearly EUR 300 million daily from oil sales. However, the current transit restrictions notably do not extend to other Russian oil giants, such as Rosneft and Tatneft.

So Slovakia can still use products and services of other Russian companies whose transit through the territory of Ukraine is permitted.

From a logical standpoint, it might look ridiculous. To cut Russia's income from Lukoil but let Russia retain incomes from other companies that currently are not under sanctions during the ongoing war.

For now, this argument hasn`t been solved yet. It is unlikely that Slovakia will sue Ukraine because of the transit halt, primarily because it is not absolute. Currently, Hungary and Slovakia are advocating the restoration of the transit of Lukoil oil through the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible.

Has Sllovakia`s aid been reduced?

Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine has indeed seen significant adjustments following Robert Fico's election as prime minister. While Fico initially halted all direct military assistance to Ukraine, he later indicated that private arms exports to Ukraine would not be restricted. His administration allowed Slovak munitions firms to continue filling existing orders for Ukraine, many of which were secured before Fico’s tenure, and these are expected to keep Slovak military manufacturers busy for years.

This move marks a shift in the nature of Slovakia's support—from direct state-provided aid to a reliance on private-sector contracts. In essence, while Slovakia's government no longer officially supplies arms, the private sector can still legally sell arms to Ukraine, and several Slovak arms manufacturers are fulfilling contracts established before Fico’s government formation.

Will Slovakia continue to support Ukraine?

Slovakia will continue to support Ukraine under Robert`s Fico government but in limited form. Fico halted direct military support but Slovakia still will offer humanitarian assistance. The government allows private manufacturers to fulfill existing contracts with Ukraine. This will ensure the level of ongoing military support through private channels rather than through the state.

In general, the rise to power of a government in Slovakia with clear pro-Russian leanings has significantly impacted Slovakian assistance to Ukraine and excluded Slovakia from the list of Ukrainian military supporters in the Western world.

According to Slovakian President Zuzana Chaputova, her country will remain a Ukrainian ally but switching govenments focus from military aid to only humanitarian assistance can be already considered a significant achievement for Vladimir Putin in his attempts to extinguish Western military support to Ukraine.