Fico Responds to Criticism Over Ukraine Remarks: Freedom of Speech and Diplomatic Discourse
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico unexpectedly found himself at the center of political controversy following remarks about Ukraine that sparked heated debates within diplomatic circles and the public.
In his statements, he used a metaphor, comparing Ukraine to ‘grass’, alluding to its role in the global conflict between ‘elephants’, i.e., powerful world players.
This drew outrage from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, which issued a sharp response: Fico allegedly misunderstood the core of the situation and made dangerous insinuations.
Fico emphasized that his goal is to pursue an ‘immediate fair peace’ for Ukraine and urged to stop the ‘senseless’ bloodshed, while reaffirming his right to express personal opinions, even if they contradict Kyiv and the EU’s official stance.
He reminded that Slovakia provides significant assistance to Ukraine, including electricity supplies and using its infrastructure for gas transit, though he also accused Kyiv of hampering gas supplies to Slovakia, which caused substantial harm.
The politician also highlighted that the ongoing war has severely limited free speech within the EU, and expressed concern over the suppression of alternative views.
Not hiding his personal motives, Fico stressed that he is driven by principles of independent diplomacy and the right to free expression, mentioning an attempted assassination he claims was related to his stance on the war.
Just before the meeting with U.S.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Fico cited an African proverb that ‘whether elephants fight or have sex, the grass always suffers’, implying that Ukraine, in his view, is the ‘grass’ that risks being harmed regardless of diplomatic negotiations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry swiftly responded, stating that the Slovak Prime Minister is confused and does not understand the real reasons behind Russia’s invasion, warning against dangerous flirtations with the Kremlin.
Moreover, Fico was outraged that some EU countries banned his flights to Moscow, which he sees as political pressure.
Recall that Fico previously claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ‘hates him’, adding further tension to bilateral relations.