Slovak High Minister Robert Fico stated on Tuesday that “there’s no warfare in Kyiv,” describing existence in Ukraine’s capital as “completely standard.”
“Do you in reality suppose there may be warfare in Kyiv? I’m hoping you’re now not severe … existence there may be completely standard,” Fico instructed a press convention when requested why he’s now not assembly High Minister Denys Shmyhal in Ukraine’s greatest town, the place he may higher take hold of the have an effect on of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing warfare.
Fico and Shmyhal are as an alternative set to satisfy Wednesday within the western Ukrainian town of Uzhhorod close to the Slovak border. Fico stated the number of town used to be a realistic one and were proposed by way of the Ukrainian aspect.
The Slovak chief’s arguable remarks about protection in Ukraine’s capital got here the similar day Russia attacked the rustic with 41 missiles, leaving a number of other folks lifeless in Kyiv and Kharkiv, dozens injured, and infrastructure in ruins.
Ukrainian officers have been livid with Fico, who has again and again drawn Kyiv’s ire — together with when he vowed throughout ultimate 12 months’s basic election marketing campaign in Slovakia “to not ship some other bullet to Ukraine.”
“Let me let you know about an afternoon in Kyiv,” senior Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko spoke back. “These days everybody aroused from sleep at 5:43 a.m. for the reason that air raid alarm began. After which an hour later there have been already the primary explosions … How did the day get started in Bratislava? Most probably now not with the sound of Russian missiles.
“But.”
It’s now not the primary time even this month that Fico has sparked outrage along with his feedback in regards to the warfare. Over the weekend he steered that Ukraine cede territory to Russia to forestall its aggression, and reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s want to enroll in the NATO army alliance. He additionally solid doubt on Ukraine’s sovereignty, pronouncing the rustic is “beneath the entire affect and keep an eye on of the US.”
Ukraine disregarded Fico’s proposal that it surrender territory to Moscow. “No safety in Ukraine approach no safety in Slovakia or Europe as an entire,” stated Ukrainian International Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko.
