Slovakia keen to join China-led group on Ukraine war, visiting leader tells Xi Jinping

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s remarks could enrage EU counterparts as bloc sees growing faction willing to engage with Russia

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:27pm, 1 Nov 2024

Slovakia is ready to join the “Friends of Peace” group launched by China and Brazil at the United Nations to resolve the war in Ukraine, the Central European country’s prime minister said on a trip to Beijing.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. During the meeting, Fico said that “China’s position on the Ukrainian crisis is fair, objective and constructive”, according to a Chinese government statement.

“Slovakia is willing to join the ‘Friends of Peace’ group on the Ukrainian crisis and work with China to contribute to promoting a political solution to the crisis,” it continued.

Posting on his own Facebook page, Fico said: “We are very keen on China’s diplomatic efforts dedicated to regulating the conflict in Ukraine and have exchanged our attitudes on this fundamental issue.”

According to the Chinese statement, Xi said that he “appreciated Slovakia’s objective, rational and fair attitude, and welcomed Slovakia and more like-minded countries to work with China to play an active role in promoting peace and dialogue”.

Xi said he hoped that the incoming European Union commissioners, expected to be in place by the end of November following confirmation hearings this month, “would adhere to the positioning of China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, properly manage differences, and avoid politicising economic and trade issues”.