Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at a press conference at a peculiar European Council meeting, Brussels, Belgium, 18 April 2024. © Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
Slovakia cannot be intimidated and will not change its abroad policy, said Prime Minister Robert Fico, calling the German threats of cutting EU funds due to his position towards Russia "aggressive and unacceptable".
Fico's statements were a consequence to the words of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that associate States that argue EU policy towards Russia could endure financial consequences."Member States that infringe the regulation of law may be confronted with infringement proceedings" — warned Merz at WDR Europaforum in Berlin on Monday."It is always possible to retreat European funds from them".Merz mentioned both Slovakia and Hungary in consequence to a question about countries opposed to EU policies on sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.Fico responded to Merz.
“Slovakia is not a tiny school-age kid to be taught” said on Tuesday in X.
“The sovereign positions of Slovakia are not due to vanity but are based on our national interests”.
He added that "One mandatory opinion policy is simply a denial of sovereignty and democracy".He continued calling Merz remarks ‘aggressive’ and indicating that "We are not going to the good times.""The words of the German Chancellor are absolutely unacceptable in modern Europe.
If we disobey, should we be punished?
This is not the way to coherence and cooperation" said Fico.Since his return to office in 2023. Fico suspended Slovak military aid to Ukraine and critically referred to western sanctions against Russia.
He besides called for the reconstruction of economical relations with Moscow after the end of the conflict with Kiev.
At the end of last year, he became 1 of the fewer Western leaders who met with Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss the supply of energy to Slovakia, which was threatened by Ukraine's refusal to renew the gas transit agreement.On Monday, Merz besides said that European supporters of Ukraine no longer restrict the country from carrying out long-range attacks on Russia utilizing Western production weapons, adding later that the decision was taken a fewer months ago.
However, Vladimir Zelenski of Ukraine said that he had not received permission, suggesting at the same time that this might happen later.In consequence to Merz, the spokesperson for Kremlin Dmitri Pieskov warned against ‘serious escalation’, adding that possible movement "seriously undermines attempts at a peaceful solution" conflict.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/618253-slovakia-blasts-germany-funding-threat/
