Italy plans to withdraw its own air defense system from Slovakia, which was temporarily transferred to the country last year to replace the American Patriot air defense system.
Why Italy will take away its air defense system from Slovakia
According to the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, he received a corresponding message from the Italian government regarding the withdrawal of the air defense system, which they handed over for a year, because it is needed elsewhere.
In this context, Fico wondered what would protect nuclear power plants and other strategic targets in Slovakia.
First, the previous government gave Ukraine a serviceable massive Russian S-300 air defense system. Then we had the American "Patriots" here for a while, they also went, and now the Italian ones will go, - said Robert Fizo.
The Italian SAMP/T air defense system replaced the American Patriot last year. Slovakia has provided S-300s to Ukraine after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
What is known about Slovakia's position on defense aid for Ukraine
Earlier, the new prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, said that Bratislava will not support the provision of military aid to Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression.
Later, Slovakia invented an excuse for refusing defense aid to Ukraine. Bratislava is apparently no longer able to provide aid, as it needs to maintain its own defense capabilities.
On November 8, 2023, the new government of Slovakia refused to provide Ukraine with another (already 14th) package of military aid in the total amount of 40.3 million euros, which was approved by the previous Ministry of Defense of the country.
Fico's government indicated that Ukraine received 13 packages for a total of 671 million euros. In addition to military aid, the previous government offered humanitarian aid: medical supplies and fuel.
We should also add that earlier the new prime minister of Slovakia stated that he has no intention of hindering the export of private defense companies.
In January, Slovak parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini announced that the country would continue implementing private contracts in the military sphere. But Slovakia will not send military aid to Ukraine from the warehouses of its army.
On January 24, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico met in Uzhhorod. In particular, the parties signed a joint statement that will strengthen bilateral relations between the countries. Shmyhal later said that Slovakia would supply Ukraine with engineering equipment for the construction of a three-level defense line. In particular, it is about armored excavators and demining machines.
