Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will do everything possible to keep Slovakia out of a military conflict, citing NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause ahead of a visit to Ukraine on Friday. Fico said he did not want Slovakia drawn into war “because of some Article 5,” while also stressing that Bratislava values NATO membership and cooperation. NATO’s treaty requires every ally to assist a member subjected to an armed attack, but allows each government to determine what action it considers necessary. Fico is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the visit, according to Slovakia’s TASR news agency. Fico has frequently differed with Kyiv over military support, sanctions and Russian energy. In 2025, Zelensky told Fico that Ukraine would continue striking Russian energy targets despite Slovak objections during the war.
