Tensions have erupted within Slovakia’s ruling coalition after a public clash between Prime Minister Robert Fico and Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Andrej Danko over Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.
The disagreement, which played out on social media and in public statements, reflects growing divisions on foreign policy as political momentum appears to shift, with parliamentary elections set to take place in 2027.
Danko attacked first, criticizing Fico’s endorsement of European Council conclusions supporting Ukraine’s European integration. “Ukraine is a security risk. It cannot join the EU now or in the future. If it joins the European Union, it will also want to join NATO,” Danko wrote on Facebook. He claimed that most Slovaks oppose Ukraine’s accession: “The nation does not want Ukraine in the EU, you can be sure of that.”
“Why are you doing things differently now?”
Devastating takedown of Slovak PM Robert Fico by his coalition party leader for not holding the line with Hungary on Ukraine’s EU membership this week in Brussels.
SNS leader @AndrejDanko6: “Ukraine is a security risk. It cannot,… pic.twitter.com/WgGZ2BCt72
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 27, 2025
Fico, leader of the dominant Smer-SD party, hit back: “SNS Chairman Danko criticized me on social networks today for supporting the conclusions of the European Council on Ukraine. He said he didn’t understand it because the only ones against it were the Hungarians. I don’t understand what A. Danko is trying to do,” Fico said.
Emphasizing that 26 of 27 EU member states backed the conclusions, including Slovakia, he asked Danko: “What is shocking or incomprehensible, Mr. Chairman, or damaging to the national and state interests of Slovakia?”
Fico accused Danko of undermining the coalition and seeking enemies within the government rather than in the opposition. “It is sad that my coalition partner has shamed me instead of supporting me for no reason,” he added.
The SNS has long opposed Ukraine’s accession to both the EU and NATO. Fico’s Smer party, while traditionally critical of Western foreign policy, has backed Ukraine’s EU aspirations — though it remains opposed to Ukraine joining NATO. The dispute exposes the fragile balance within the coalition, already strained by differing views on migration, defense, and foreign alliances.
This is not the first time Fico has stirred controversy regarding global affairs and security. Earlier this month, he suggested the country might benefit from declaring neutrality, hinting at a possible future outside NATO.
“Wouldn’t Slovakia’s neutrality be good in this crazy period?” he asked publicly, later criticizing the EU’s push for increased defense spending. “What are we all being dragged into? What kind of war are you talking about?” he questioned, denouncing the “senseless times of armaments.”
Such issues could play a key role in parliamentary elections to be held within the next two years. The latest Ipsos poll for Denník N, conducted between June 16 and 19, shows Progressive Slovakia (PS) narrowly leading with 21.7 percent, ahead of Fico’s Smer-SD at 19.7 percent.
Support for Danko’s SNS stands at just 2.5 percent, down from 5.6 percent in the 2023 election.
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