this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2024
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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday (20 January) alleged neighbouring Ukraine was not a sovereign nation but was under the absolute control of the United States, in embrace of a Russian conspiracy theory.

The populist politician, who is against military aid to the war-torn country and opposes sanctions against Russia, also reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s bid to join NATO.

“Ukraine is not an independent and sovereign country,” Fico told public broadcaster RTVS. “Ukraine is under the total influence and control of the United States.”

Slovakia is a member of both NATO and the European Union.

Fico is due to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday in the city of Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, on the border with Slovakia.

“I will tell him that I am against the membership of Ukraine in NATO and that I will veto it,” Fico said.

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[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 86 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

Population of Ukraine: 37 million

GDP: $360 billion

Military: Possibly the strongest in Europe atm, comparable to Turkey as an alliance member at worst.

Strategic value: High

Population of Slovakia: 5 million

GDP: $116 billion

Military: Literally one division of troops that have never seen combat

Strategic value: Could not be lower.

[–] illi@lemm.ee 36 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm Slovak and couldn't agree more.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Even from the Slovakian POV there's not really a downside.

Y'all don't need NATO, the EU already comes with a defensive pact. I tend to view more international cooperation being better international cooperation, but if someone's going to be a bad actor and reject a purely beneficial expansion in a relationship there's only tertiary benefits for all parties in, why even be in it?

[–] illi@lemm.ee 7 points 2 years ago

I'm not saying we shouldn't be in NATO - it's the current government I have issue with. Without NATO we would be next in line in case Ukraine would fall. Just because our nation is dumb and easily manipulated or bribed by populist decisions doesn't mean we should be devoured. We will see how things turn out but hopefuly we manage to turn it around.

Because we are usless in the grand scheme of things right now doesn't mean it should stay that way

[–] boyi@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

With a population 1/7 of Ukraine, the GDP is 1/3 of Ukraine - not bad at all.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 14 points 2 years ago

That's Central vs Eastern Europe for you, and Ukraine actually did pretty well compared to some of their neighbors.

[–] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 38 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wonder how much Russia bought him for

[–] Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago

Definitely less than Melania. But they both have to suck a tiny button mushroom to stay alive now.

[–] TIMMAY@lemmy.world 27 points 2 years ago

Slovak PM is assisting the spread of Putin's anti-Ukraine agenda ahead of elections. Slovak PM is firmly attached to putins nutsack by his mouth.

[–] Hubi@feddit.de 26 points 2 years ago

The fact that Fico got elected has to be one of the hardest blows against European unity in recent memory.

[–] Dehydrated@lemmy.world 26 points 2 years ago

Slovak PM is a fucking moron

[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 19 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

And that's not even the worst thing he did/said. Can't wait for Babiš to win Czech elections so 3 countries of the V4 will have a populist who's stealing and murdering as a prime minister.

So, which country wants a senior architect/developer? Seriously considering emigrating the last few months.

[–] dlatch@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Plenty of work for you in The Netherlands... But then again the PVV with Geert Wilders was the biggest in our last elections so it's not exactly progress.

[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Is anyplace free from these right wing populist cunts?

[–] TwinTusks@bitforged.space 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

How bout a place where there are no elections and you dont need to care about politics, China.

[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

True, plenty of work to keep you occupied in the reeducation camps. Hard to worry about anything else when they're torturing and beating you for believing the wrong thing.

[–] TwinTusks@bitforged.space 0 points 2 years ago

Again, you are thinking politics. There is no reason for you to be in re-education camps if you dont express any outward outrage against government (ie: politics).

[–] SteefLem@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

About the immigrating… its the same shit in well almost everywhere.

[–] legios@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago

Australia. We seem to be doing OK-ish vs. Right Wingers, but we still have our own issues...

[–] Nyoka@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago

The punishment is known. Feed him to Zizek.

[–] 100_percent_a_bot@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Maybe Czechia should take them over again, they seem to have their shit together

[–] Hhmel@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

This is what a 20% election victory looks like when people can't be arsed to vote.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

How funny would it be if Ukraine just shrugged and applied for statehood instead in response?

Like seriously, I'm pretty sure the main thing they'd have to give up control over is standards and measures and then the Interstate Commerce clause, pretty sure anything else they'd want to maintain control over they'd basically be able to.