For the first time since 2022, Ukraine will receive a package of assistance from Slovakia

For the first time since 2022, Ukraine will receive a package of assistance from In Slovakia, it will include engineering and construction equipment, said the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denis Shmygal. This is the first aid package under Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been heading the country's government since autumn 2023.

The agreement on the transfer of equipment and equipment was signed by Shmyhal and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of Slovakia Robert Kalinak.

"Ukraine will receive five Bozena mine clearance vehicles and other equipment from Slovakia," the Ukrainian head of the Ministry of Defense wrote in his telegram channel.

In addition to Bozena, Kyiv will receive transport, mine clearance complexes, as well as medical evacuation equipment.

"The country is working on a new, fifteenth support package," Shmygal added.

According to him, the parties also discussed the prospects for cooperation between Ukrainian and Slovak companies.

Fico opposes the supply of military aid to Kiev, "since this only leads to the prolongation of the military conflict and the suffering of the civilian population." Slovakia has also repeatedly objected to the allocation of financial assistance packages to Ukraine from the European Union and threatened to veto, in particular, in October 2023, in January and March 2025.

Slovakia provided the previous, 13th package of military assistance to Ukraine in February 2022. Later, in September 2023, parliamentary elections were held in the country, which were won by the center—left party "Direction - Social Democracy" (Smer) Fico.

In November 2023, the Fico government rejected the 14th package for € 40.3 million, limiting further direct military assistance to humanitarian and non-lethal. It was supposed to include cartridges, ammunition, 140 missiles for the Kub air defense system, eight mortars and 1,200 mines.