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Brussels – The chairman of PS, the strongest Slovak opposition party, Michal Šimečka, stated in Brussels on Thursday after the summit of the liberal faction Renew Europe that he hopes for more intense cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine in the future. He described the steps of the Slovak government regarding support for Ukraine, particularly in the military area, as confusing. However, he praised the government for supporting the adoption of a new package of EU sanctions against Russia, reports TASR correspondent.
Mihal Šimečka expressed disagreement with the government’s view, which he believes rejects military cooperation with Ukraine in terms of donating weapons and military equipment, and pointed out that extensive cooperation is taking place on a commercial basis between Slovak companies and the defense sector, so Slovak weapons ultimately end up in Ukraine and support its defense against Russia. The leader of PS came to Brussels for a meeting of members of the liberal faction Renew Europe.
During the press conference, he pointed out that coordination talks with leaders from France, Ireland, and Estonia revealed that Slovakia’s partners in the EU do not understand the government’s stance. According to him, this is also shown by the fact that Slovakia has once again “blackmailed” the rest of the EU in recent days, threatening to veto a new package of sanctions against Russia and demanding something that was not understandable to anyone.
“This weakens Slovakia’s influence and options within European politics. It further isolates and alienates us,” he stated.
According to him, Slovakia should help Ukraine more and finds it confusing that currently, cooperation is only on a commercial basis. He added that Slovakia should not be, is not, and will not be isolated from the common European effort to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and expressed hope that Slovakia would again become a constructive partner, which he believes is the will of the majority of the country’s inhabitants.
On Thursday morning, EU member states definitively adopted the 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Slovakia stopped blocking the adoption because Brussels, according to the government, incorporated all its demands regarding high energy prices, the revision of the emissions trading system (ETS 2), and the adjustment of climate goals to the needs of the automotive and heavy industry into the draft conclusions of the summit.
Šimečka praised the Slovak government for ultimately supporting the adoption of the new set of anti-Russian sanctions, despite what he described as previous “theatricals and threats of a veto.” (October 23)