Robert Fizzo met with Denis Schmigal for bilateral talks

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with his Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmigal in Uzhhorod, where they discussed the relations between their countries and signed a joint statement on bilateral relations, the "Kyiv Independent" reported.
Fico has halted arms deliveries from Slovakia's military stockpile and has repeatedly criticized both defense aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
According to Shmigal Fico, Slovakia has agreed to support the EU's Ukraine Facility, a long-term funding program designed to help Ukraine by providing up to 50 billion euros to Kyiv from 2024 to 2027.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the only European leader to veto the Ukraine Mechanism at the EU summit in December. The decision to provide the financial assistance package is expected to be discussed during the European Council summit on February 1.
Fico is close to Orbán and his Fidesz party and on January 14, after talks with Orbán, said he agreed with Budapest's position that the EU should not fund the package from the EU's general budget.
On the same day, Orbán said that relations between the two countries were at a "high point" and that both were "unsatisfied with Brussels' superpower initiatives".
"Despite the differences, we intend to form with the government of Slovakia a policy of 'new pragmatism' that will benefit both countries," Schmigal said.
Schmigal added that he was "sure that today's meeting will open a new page in our relations", shortly before the two signed the joint statement.
"Prime Minister Fico assured me of his full support for Ukraine's quest for European integration," Shmigal said. Fico has previously stated that he is not opposed to Ukraine's EU membership if Kiev fulfills all the criteria for accession.
Fico has agreed that his government will not block Ukraine's attempts to buy weapons or equipment from Slovak enterprises, Shmigal added.
Although after coming to power, Fico halted government arms shipments to Ukraine, he said he would not prevent arms sales by Slovak companies to Ukraine.
According to Ukrinform, Shmigal said at a press conference in Uzhhorod that the Slovak prime minister had agreed to cooperate with Ukraine by supplying engineering equipment that would be used to build defense lines.
That is why Slovakia will send armored excavators and demining equipment to Ukraine, he added.
According to the Slovak government, Fico will travel to Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the afternoon of January 24. /BGNES