NATO member warns bloc seeking pretext for war with Russia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says he does not want his country to be dragged into a conflict Europe is moving dangerously close to a direct clash between NATO and Russia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned, accusing the West of seeking a “pretext” for a major conflict between the two sides. Fico made the comment in a Facebook post on Thursday, which accompanied the remarks he delivered before traveling to Ukraine for a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky and several European leaders. “I am deeply concerned that they are merely looking for a pretext for a major conflict between NATO and Russia,” he wrote. Reflecting on the Ukraine conflict, Fico said that the hostilities had “gotten out of control,” while accusing European nations of engaging in increasingly bellicose rhetoric which he said risked dragging the continent into a broader war.

“The situation has never been as serious and tense regarding the possibility of a pan-European war conflict as it is now,” he said. EU committing ‘harakiri’ – Lavrov Fico also warned that Bratislava could face pressure from NATO to commit troops if the bloc’s Article 5 – a collective defense clause applied if a member state is attacked – is invoked. “Can anyone imagine being told to prepare 5,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers, and that they would go somewhere to fight? We don’t know with whom, why, or for what reason,” Fico said. “I don’t want Slovakia to be part of any military conflict because of some Article 5,” he stressed, adding that, though his country still “cares about collaboration and fulfilling obligations” . “As prime minister, I will do everything to ensure that Slovakia is never drawn into a war,” Fico stressed. Fico has consistently opposed military support for Ukraine since returning to office in 2023 while…