Ukraine lost missiles and ammunition from Slovakia

Slovakia'snew government has rejected a previously developed plan to provide Ukraine withmissiles and ammunition, fulfilling the promise of the new Prime MinisterRobert Fico to halt military aid to Kyiv.

As Reuters reports, the temporary governmentof the country approved the agreement in October. The aid package included 140"KUB" air defense system missiles, over 5,000 units of 125mmartillery ammunition, and 4 million rounds for small arms.

The PrimeMinister of Slovakia has repeatedly stated that the country will cease militaryaid to Ukraine, but recently, he made it clear that private business deals willnot be affected.

On Monday,13 November, Defence Minister Robert Kaliniak met with NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg. During the meeting, he informed the NATO chief that militaryassistance to Ukraine would be suspended, the Slovak Defence Ministry's pressservice said.

At the sametime, the statement said, Slovakia offers Ukraine a wide range of humanitarian,civilian and non-lethal technical assistance.

Thecountry's Defence Ministry also claims that foreign partners "fullyrespect" the decision of the new government.

Parliamentary elections in Slovakia and thegovernment of Robert Fico

Snapparliamentary elections were held in Slovakia on September 30. According to theresults, the populist party "Direction – Social Democracy" (SMER-SD)won the most votes, with 22.94% (42 mandates).

SMER-SDformed a coalition with the center-left "Voice" party (HLAS) and thenationalist "Slovak National Party" (SNS), which gained 5.62% in theelections and won 10 seats in parliament.

On October25, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova approved Robert Fico as the country'sprime minister and also approved the composition of the Slovak government.

The newprime minister highly praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a"politician defending his country's interests" and did not rule outthe possibility of forming an alliance with him based on common interests.

Robert Ficoconducted a campaign criticizing Western military support for Ukraine andsanctions against Russia. He also advocated for peaceful negotiations betweenUkraine and the aggressor.