Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on September 17 that he does not want Slovakia to become involved in a war because of NATO's Article 5, warning that the Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly difficult to control and that the risk of a wider conflict in Europe is now more serious than ever. Speaking in the Slovak city of Presov ahead of a visit to Ukraine, Fico referred to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which establishes the principle of collective defense and states that an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on the entire alliance.

Slovakia’s populist leader has long argued that Western countries’ approach to Russia and continued support for Ukraine is risking war.