Stop sending further military aid to Ukraine, announced the caretaker government of Slovakia, as well as the political parties that oppose support are in talks to form a governing coalition after last weekend’s election.

“Outgoing Slovakian caretaker government will not send any more military equipment to Ukraine“, a government spokesman said, according to a Politico report. The country’s defense ministry was considering sending a new aid package.

The left-wing populist party Smer of former Prime Minister Robert Fitzo won the parliamentary elections last Saturday after promising to stop arms shipments to Ukraine, block Kiev’s possible NATO membership and oppose sanctions on Russia.
Slovak President Zuzana Tsaputova gave Fico on Monday the mandate to form a coalition government. He has until October 16 to do so.

“This decision reflects the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections and should be harmonized with the outcome of the talks on the formation of a government, which are taking place these days“, said Martin Strižinec, representative of Tsaputova. “A decision to provide military aid at this particular time would set a precedent for future political power shifts.”

Fitzo was forced to resign as prime minister in 2018 following mass protests across the country over the killing of an investigative journalist.