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Fico Warns West Seeks Russia-NATO War Escalation
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says some Western politicians are trying to start a war between NATO and Russia.
He believes the strategy of supporting Ukraine to defeat Russia has failed.
Fico says continuing to support Ukraine could make the danger worse.
He wants Slovakia to stay out of the fighting.
He also warned that a drone incident could lead NATO to respond together.
Other European leaders see the situation differently.
French President Emmanuel Macron says Russia is increasing hidden or indirect attacks in Europe.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says Russia may attack countries that support Ukraine with drones and missiles.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused some Western politicians of seeking a conflict between NATO and Russia.
Fico said support for Ukraine had failed to defeat Moscow and was bringing Europe closer to a large-scale war.
He warned that a drone incursion could trigger NATO’s collective defense clause and said Slovakia would not send soldiers to fight.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks against Europe.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said intelligence agencies warned Russia could target countries supporting Ukraine with drones and missiles.
- Who
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made the accusation; French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of Russian hybrid attacks.
- What
- Fico said some Western politicians are seeking a conflict between NATO and Russia, while other European leaders warned of possible Russian drone, missile and hybrid attacks.
- Where
- The statements concerned the war in Ukraine, Slovakia, NATO and other European countries supporting Ukraine.
- When
- Fico made the remarks in a video message on Saturday, following warnings from Macron on Friday and Tusk on Thursday; the report is dated Sept. 19.
- Why
- Fico said Western support for Ukraine had failed to defeat Russia and was increasing the risk of a wider war; Macron and Tusk cited concerns about Russian hybrid attacks.
Fico’s warning
European leaders’ warnings
Cause of the escalation
Fico’s warning
Fico said Western support for Ukraine had failed to defeat Russia and that some Western politicians were trying to turn the war into a NATO-Russia conflict.
European leaders’ warnings
Macron and Tusk presented Russia as escalating its aggression through hybrid, drone and missile attacks against European countries.
Risk to NATO
Fico’s warning
Fico said the Ukraine war was not Slovakia’s or NATO’s war and warned that a drone incident could create a pretext for wider conflict.
European leaders’ warnings
Macron cited an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport, which the German government concluded Moscow was behind, as evidence of changing Russian aggression.
Slovakia’s military involvement
Fico’s warning
Fico said Slovakia would not send soldiers to fight and wanted to prevent the country from becoming part of an armed conflict.
European leaders’ warnings
The warnings from Macron and Tusk focused on countering possible Russian attacks against countries supporting Ukraine.
Key facts
- Main accuser
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico
- Fico’s claim
- Some Western politicians are trying to trigger a conflict between NATO and Russia.
- Slovakia’s position
- Fico said Slovakia would not send soldiers to fight under what he called a fabricated pretext.
- NATO concern
- Fico said a drone incursion could lead to activation of NATO’s collective defense clause.
- France’s warning
- Emmanuel Macron said Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks against Europe.
- Poland’s warning
- Donald Tusk said intelligence agencies warned of possible Russian hybrid drone and missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine.
Quotes
Robert Fico
Prime Minister of Slovakia
“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.”
theprint.in
“Certain war hawks within NATO are trying, at any cost, to turn this war into a conflict between Russia and NATO.”
theprint.in
Sources
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