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Between pro-Russian rhetoric and pragmatic cooperation with Ukraine

Between 30 and 40 per cent of Slovaks have positive feelings towards Russia, which makes Slovak society one of the most pro-Russian in Europe. And yet, pro-Russian Slovaks do not want to leave either NATO or the EU. This simultaneous support for Russia and western alliances is a phenomenon that demands a deeper look.

At this year’s NATO summit in Washington DC, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sent, not for the first time, a radically pro-Russian message to his voters. In a video posted on Facebook he said that Ukraine’s NATO membership was unacceptable and “a guarantee of a third world war”.

September 17, 2024 - Jakub Łoginow - AnalysisIssue 5 2024Magazine

Historically speaking, Slovaks do not have a long tradition of statehood. Actually, they had no tradition of statehood until the 20th century. This was mainly because for almost one thousand years the territory of what now constitutes Slovakia belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Photo: Marek M / Shutterstock

Fico’s pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric resembles that of the Hungarian prime minister – Viktor Orbán. Yet this is where the similarities between the two prime ministers and their countries end. Unlike Hungary, which consistently blocks European Union and NATO aid to Ukraine, Slovakia (and this is true for both Fico and President Peter Pellegrini who represents the same political camp) easily agree with Brussels and Washington’s pro-Ukrainian policies. Thus, the Slovak commentators who were observing the summit pointed out that Fico’s Facebook video came right after the Slovak delegation had joined other members of the Alliance in the declaration stating that Ukraine’s NATO membership trajectory was irreversible. To outsiders and those less familiar with Slovak politics, such a situation may be incomprehensible. However, those who know Fico and his party, SMER, recognize that this tactic was used before, especially during the two previous terms when SMER was in power: from 2006 to 2010 and then from 2012 to 2020.

A pro-Russian society that likes NATO and the EU

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