The Two Faces of Robert Fico
Slovakia and Russia’s War against Ukraine
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
At the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Slovakia was one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters. Eduard Heger’s government delivered the first missile defence system and the first fighter jets. The country forged close political ties with Kyiv, provided humanitarian aid, and took in refugees. In October 2023, Robert Fico took office as prime minister for the fourth time. He changed the country’s Ukraine policy. A closer look shows that his anti-Western rhetoric and his pro-Russian stance are usually much harsher than his actual political actions.
(Osteuropa 11-12/2024, pp. 81–92)