live Slovakia's Fico warns Western policies could trigger NATO-Russia conflict

Slovakia's Fico warns Western policies could trigger NATO-Russia conflict
Firefighters work at the site of a shopping centre hit by a Russian drone attack, in Dnipro, Ukraine, 19 September 2026
Reuters

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that efforts to escalate the Ukraine war could trigger a direct conflict between NATO and Russia, saying Slovakia will not send soldiers or support what he called an “irresponsible military adventure.”

⦿ 04:46 GMT | UPDATE

Moscow oil refinery facility damaged in drone attack

Reuters

A facility at the Moscow oil refinery was damaged in a drone attack on the Russian capital, state news agency TASS reported, citing Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. No casualties were reported.

⦿ 4:30 GMT | UPDATE

Slovak PM Fico says some in West seek war between Russia and NATO

Reuters

Some Western politicians are seeking conflict between NATO and Russia after a “failed” strategy to defeat Moscow in its war with Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Saturday.

Longtime Slovak leader Fico, who has kept up warm relations with Russia and refuses military aid for Ukraine, said this week that Europe was closer than ever to a large-scale war erupting from the Ukraine war.

At the same time, some European leaders, such as those in France and Poland, have warned of Russian hybrid attacks.

In his video message, Fico said, “We face a mortal danger” while watching the West “pour fuel on the fire” with its support for Ukraine, which he said had been to no avail.

“The failure of the strategy to destroy Russia through the war in Ukraine has led some Western politicians to believe that if the goal cannot be achieved through the Ukrainian army and full support for it, then every effort must be made to trigger a conflict between NATO and Russia,” Fico said in the video posted on social media.

He said the war in Ukraine was not Slovakia's nor NATO's war but said, “Certain war hawks within NATO are trying, at any cost, to turn this war into a conflict between Russia and NATO.”

⦿ 3:57 GMT | UPDATE

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