Slovakia publicly opposes military support for Ukraine. However, the shells produced by Slovak manufacturers are used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. UNN writes with reference to Bloomberg.
Details
Slovakia's Defense Minister Robert Kalinak plans to increase the number of units from 125,000 this year to 200,000 next year. However, although the Slovak government officially refuses to arm Ukraine, Slovak ammunition still finds its way there.
According to Kalinak, the government cannot control what buyers do with the ammunition after they purchase it. He also denied that selling shells to Ukraine, either directly or through intermediaries, contradicts the government's policy against military aid to Kyiv.
This position makes Slovakia, along with neighboring Hungary, one of the NATO countries that defend outsider positions on the eastern flank of the alliance.
Our political declaration says that we will not provide free military aid to Ukraine, because in this way we will support the conflict. But we will not limit defense production when it supports the gross domestic product, because by doing so, I will harm the interests of Slovakia,
According to the minister, the defense industry should contribute about 2% to the country's economic growth this year. This is a chance to improve Slovakia's economy and public finances.
"From a historical point of view, this is the path I really want to follow. The defense industry is a high value-added industry," he adds.
Addendum
At the beginning of the year, Robert Kalinak became a central figure in Slovak political life, taking over as prime minister after a tragic incident in May when his predecessor was wounded in an assassination attempt. Robert Fico returned to his duties earlier this month.
"He definitely sees life from a different angle now. I think he realizes, and we all know it, that every word he says carries ten times more weight than ever before," Kalinak said of Fico after his recovery.
Recall
In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized Ukraine's inclusion of the Russian oil company Lukoil in the sanctions list.