Slovakian troops not going to fight Russia for those seeking conflict — premier

BRATISLAVA, September 20. /TASS/. The government of Slovakia will not send its soldiers to fight against Russia based on a fabricated pretext and on behalf of those who are fueling the conflict with Moscow, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

Earlier, Fico said that, in his opinion, a pretext is now being sought for a major conflict between NATO and Rusisa.

"If someone is interested in provoking a military conflict between NATO and Russia to satisfy their own national interests, they must bear the responsibility for such a move, instead of shifting it onto other NATO members," the premier said in a video address posted on Facebook (a social media site banned in Russia since it is owned by Meta corporation designated as extremist by the Russian authorities).

"It’s easy to create a pretext to begin a war. However, we are mature enough to distinguish an armed attack by a non-NATO country on one or more NATO member states from something entirely different," the premier continued. "As long as my government remains in office, no one will send Slovak soldiers outside of Slovakia to fight against Russia or any other country based on a fabricated pretext."

Besides, Fico urged "to stop the rhetoric of false solidarity" among members of the European Union.

He added that anti-Russian calls in the West are aimed at distracting attention from domestic problems.