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Robert Fico

Prime Minister, Slovakia

Search every verified Robert Fico interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has recently made several statements on the Ukraine conflict and EU policy. In a September 21 video message, he said the Western strategy to defeat Russia through the war in Ukraine has failed, and argued that Russia cannot be defeated in a conventional war, only with nuclear weapons. Fico stated that the war between Russia and Ukraine is "not our Slovak war" and said he would work to prevent Slovakia from being drawn into a military conflict between NATO and Russia, while reaffirming Slovakia's continued membership in NATO and the EU. On September 18, he warned that the conflict has "spiraled out of control," cautioning that continued escalation could lead European countries to shift resources from civilian projects to military preparations, such as "assembling tanks" instead of building hospitals. Fico has also addressed EU relations with Russia and Ukraine's accession process. At an August 29 commemoration, he criticized what he called growing "Russophobia" in the EU, saying Russia should be criticized for its actions but not demonized or pushed out of Europe, and urged the bloc to prioritize diplomacy and economic plans over weapons. Following talks with European Council President António Costa on August 26, Fico said Slovakia supports EU enlargement but that Ukraine must meet the same conditions as other candidates, stating there would be "no exceptions, no shortcuts" for Kyiv. He also called for stronger cohesion and agricultural funding for Eastern EU states and expressed a view that the EU should seek a friendly relationship with China rather than treating it as an enemy.

Recent appearances

  • FICO DECLARES: 'Not Our Slovak War', Rejects Ukraine Conflict As NATO Obligation Now!

    September 21, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned in a video message that the Western strategy aimed at defeating Russia through the war in Ukraine has failed, arguing that this failure is pushing an increasing number of Western politicians toward seeking a direct military confrontation between NATO and Russia. Fico stated that Russia cannot be defeated in a conventional war and could only be defeated through the use of nuclear weapons, asserting that anyone familiar with Russia's nuclear arsenal understands the severe implications of such an outcome, and argued that the war between Russia and Ukraine,…

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  • FICO WARNS EU: ‘We’ll Be Assembling Tanks’, Slovak PM Warns Europe Could Face Conflict With Russia

    September 18, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that the Ukraine conflict had “spiralled out of control” and criticised what he described as increasingly aggressive war rhetoric across Europe. Speaking in Slovakia, Fico said continued escalation could see resources diverted from civilian projects towards military preparations, saying the country could end up “assembling tanks” instead of building hospitals and “digging trenches and building bunkers” instead of pursuing a new nuclear power project. He also questioned the implications of a potential NATO Article 5 scenario, asking whether European coun…

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  • Slovakia’s Fico Blasts EU Russophobia, Urges Diplomacy With Moscow Over EU Weapons | Times Now World

    August 30, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned the European Union against what he called growing “Russophobia,” saying Russia should be criticised for its actions but not demonised or pushed out of Europe. Speaking at Slovak National Uprising commemorations in Banska Bystrica, Fico urged the EU to prioritise diplomacy with Moscow, economic recovery and peace over weapons and confrontation. His remarks challenge the bloc’s current Russia policy and underline divisions within Europe over the war in Ukraine, military support and relations with Moscow. #robertfico #slovakia #russia #eu #europeanun…

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  • FICO VS ZELENSKY: Ukraine's EU Bid Hits a Wall, Robert Fico Says NO Exceptions for Kyiv!

    August 26, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Ukraine must meet the same conditions as other European Union membership candidates, warning there would be “no exceptions, no shortcuts” for Kyiv. Speaking after talks with European Council President António Costa in Bratislava, Fico said Slovakia supports EU enlargement provided candidates fulfil all membership requirements. His comments come as the EU discusses Ukraine’s accession alongside negotiations over its 2028–2034 budget. Fico, whose government has repeatedly challenged Brussels over support for Kyiv, also called for stronger cohesion and agric…

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  • FICO VS EU: Slovakia Rejects €90 Billion Ukraine Loan, Warns Ukraine Allies will Block EU Membership

    July 05, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Fresh political fissures have emerged within the European Union over the long-term financial and integration roadmap for Kyiv, following sharp warnings from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico that Ukraine's primary military backers will eventually pivot to become the fiercest opponents of its accession bid. The warnings coincided with the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, where Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed an initial €3.2 billion installment from a broader €90 billion EU support package intended to stabilize the nation's energy grid ahead of the winter heating season.…

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  • Fico After EU Summit: Ukraine Talks, Russia Sanctions & Budget | Amaravati Today

    June 20, 2026 · 📺 AT World News

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico delivered a national briefing following the European Council summit, outlining Slovakia's position on key European issues. Fico emphasized major differences with Ukraine's leadership while supporting continued dialogue and bilateral talks. He reaffirmed Slovakia's opposition to EU sanctions on Russia that could harm the country's economy and energy security. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of a future EU budget that protects Slovakia's automotive industry and strengthens European competitiveness. Watch the full analysis of Slovakia's stance on…

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  • FICO SLAMS EU: Hungary's New PM Magyar Meets Fico as V4 Alliance Eyes Return | Times Now World

    June 19, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday that his first face-to-face meeting with Hungary's newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar marked a positive step toward reviving cooperation within the Visegrad Group (V4), a regional alliance of Central European states. Speaking after a brief coordination meeting, Fico said the two leaders had agreed to hold formal talks in Budapest on June 23, focusing on competitiveness and energy prices. The meeting attracted attention after Fico accidentally knocked over an information board during a video message and jokingly remarked, "Sorry, Europea…

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  • "NO NEW IRON CURTAIN": Slovakia’s Robert Fico Defies European Union & Blasts Trump's "Energy Markup"

    May 10, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has sparked a fresh diplomatic crisis within the European Union after defending his high-profile visit to Moscow and calling for an end to the "new Iron Curtain" between Europe and Russia. Following meetings with President Vladimir Putin, Fico directly challenged the EU’s energy strategy, alleging that Brussels is trading affordable Russian supplies for "significantly more expensive" American energy. The Slovak leader further warned that Washington could eventually exploit the crisis by acquiring European infrastructure to resell fuel at massive markups. Amids…

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  • WATCH: Slovak PM Robert Fico In Moscow For Victory Day and Putin Meeting, EU Shocked!

    May 08, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow ahead of Russia’s Victory Day commemorations and openly described himself as the European Union’s “black sheep” while defending ties with Russia. Fico laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin and signaled the importance of his upcoming talks with Vladimir Putin amid deep divisions within Europe over the Ukraine war. His Moscow visit comes as Russia uses Victory Day celebrations to project military strength and as tensions remain high over fears of potential Ukrainian disruptions during the event. #robertfico#putin#ru…

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  • LIVE: Slovak PM Robert Fico Lays Flowers Near Kremlin Ahead of Victory Day Parade in Moscow | AC1N

    May 08, 2026 · 📺 DRM News

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visits Moscow and lays flowers near the Kremlin ahead of Russia’s Victory Day parade, a highly symbolic event marking the end of World War II. The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe and draws international attention due to Slovakia’s position within the EU and NATO. For more details, watch our story and subscribe to our channel, DRM News. Slovakia PM, Robert Fico, Moscow visit, Kremlin, Victory Day, Russia Victory Day parade, WWII commemoration, Slovakia Russia relations, EU politics, NATO member Slovakia, Moscow news, geopolitical t…

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  • Fico Responds To Zelensky On Ukraine EU Bid, Says “No Need To Cross That Bridge” | APT

    May 04, 2026 · 📺 APT

    Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @apt_news   Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks suggesting Slovakia supports Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union, saying there is “no need to cross that bridge until we come to it.” Fico’s comments signal a more cautious stance, as discussions around Ukraine’s potential EU membership continue to generate debate among member states. While some European leaders have expressed strong backing for Kyiv’s ambitions, others have urged a more measured approach. Zelensky had indicated…

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  • WATCH: 'Zelensky Crossed All Red Lines!,' Robert Fico Drops Deadly Warning To Ukraine | World News

    March 15, 2026 · 📺 Times Now World

    BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico issued a scathing address on Saturday, declaring a national "oil crisis" and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of intentionally damaging Slovakia’s energy security by halting Russian oil transit. Fico further condemned the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran, characterizing the strikes as a "gross violation of international law" that would have catastrophic consequences for global energy prices. In a significant move for national sovereignty, the Prime Minister also confirmed Slovakia’s rejection of revised World…

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Verified interview transcripts

Notable quotes

“We have an ecological modern factory that produced 17% of all primary aluminum production in the European Union. 17%. We are a country that has 85% carbon-free electricity. We have connections with all neighbors, we are a net exporter of electricity, but we buy electricity for €100 or more per megawatt. So an ecologically perfect good factory that produced 17% of total aluminum production in the EU had to be closed b”

“I am an opponent of a single mandatory opinion. I think such an approach is very wrong, and I often see opinions that do not correspond to this one correct political opinion that we should hold. Sometimes we even fight over historical facts. Look, every year we celebrate the anniversary of the Carpathian-Dukla operation. It is from 1944. It is not possible to ignore the horrors that the Red Army soldiers had to go th”

“The first main reason I am here is the indisputable historical fact that it was the peoples of the former Soviet Union, and especially today's Russian Federation, who paid the greatest price in the fight against fascism and in World War II. I also considered it important to show respect to those Red Army soldiers who fell during the liberation of the Slovak Republic. To everyone who criticizes my positions, I say: go”

“In the European Union you always have some black sheep, so-called Black Sheep of the Family. And I belong to this flock. I say this everywhere, so I have no problem saying it here too. I am an opponent of a single mandatory opinion. I think such an approach is very wrong, and I often express opinions that do not correspond to this single correct political opinion that we should hold. Sometimes I even fight over histo”

“I have no reason to comment on how other politicians in Europe approach these celebrations. But I have very strong reasons why I am here. The first main reason I am here is that it is an indisputable historical fact that it was the peoples of the former Soviet Union, and especially of today's Russian Federation, who paid the greatest price in the fight against fascism and in World War II. I also considered it importa”

“President Zalinski has crossed all the red lines and a legitimate question must arise. Whose interests are more important for the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council? Those of Ukraine or those interests that belong to EU member states. It is very very sad that we have to have such a discussion at all. And for these circumstances, dear friends, it is a bad joke that President Zalinski”

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