Bratislava, October 26 (QNA) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced today that his country will not participate in any European Union program aimed at financing military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

"I refuse to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial plan aimed at helping Ukraine in its war management and military spending," Fico said at a press conference.

Slovakia suspended state military aid to Ukraine when the Fico government took power in 2023, but still allows commercial sales. Fico disagrees with EU countries on the war, saying the solution is not on the battlefield.

EU leaders previously agreed to meet Ukraine's "urgent financial needs" over the next two years, but refrained from endorsing a plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance a EUR 140 billion loan to Kyiv.

Fico also criticized the EU's sanctions on Russia, saying they further harm Europe.

Slovakia and Hungary, both buyers of Russian energy supplies, now face risks due to US sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which are scheduled to take effect next month.

Fico said today that the Slovak refiner Slovenneft is part of the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL and is not a buyer of the oil.

"At this moment, we are not assessing it that way," Fico added in his first comments since the US announced the sanctions last week. (QNA)