Slovakia not to be part of EU program for Ukraine's military aid: PM

BRATISLAVA - Slovakia will not participate in any European Union (EU) program aimed at financing military aid to Ukraine in the fight against Russia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday.

Fico told a press conference that he refuses "to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial program" which aims to help Ukraine manage the conflict and its military costs.

Fico also criticized the EU sanctions imposed against Russia because of the conflicts in Ukraine, saying that the sanctions harm Europe more.

Fico's comments came after EU leaders on Thursday reaffirmed their political, economic and military support for Ukraine but stopped short of backing any specific funding mechanism, as they failed to agree on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance new loans for Ukraine, after divisions resurfaced at a European Council summit.