One year since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war (that is, as of March 2023), Slovakia has provided Ukraine with armed equipment equivalent to more than 10% of its defense budget - yes, Slovakia can be said to have done its best in aiding Ukraine, but it may rise sharply at the moment, and the situation behind is unpredictable.
The Slovak Socialist Movement party had just won the parliamentary elections, and its pro-Russian leader, Robert Fico, ▪ was seen as an opposition to further military aid to neighboring Ukraine — as Fico entered the election by announcing that he would stop providing military aid to Ukraine and reiterating his commitment after the victory.
Pro-Russian leader Robert ▪ Fico
One of the implications of Fico's victory was to add strength to another truly powerful politician, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor, who is already considered the biggest source of infighting between the EU and NATO. However, Fico has yet to form a governing coalition, as the Slovak Socialist Movement still has only 23% of the seats, so the composition of the government's cabinet is yet to be decided.
During former Prime Minister Manuel Manuel Manuel Pellegrini, Slovakia sent a large number of Soviet-designed weapons. In addition, Slovakia provided the KUB air defense missile system, 30 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters, and announced the supply of fighter jets - both Slovakia and Poland handed over their MiG-29s to Ukraine. In addition, Ukraine received supplies from Slovakia for minesweeping vehicles and medical supplies, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and ammunition and spare parts for Soviet equipment. By the way, Slovakia also supplied 24 Zuzana-2 self-propelled howitzers, which are still being delivered.
In March of this year, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, Olena Kondaratic, in a meeting with the speaker of the Slovak National Assembly, Boris Kolar, thanked the Sri Lankan side for providing military assistance, saying that "Slovakia, in particular, provides 10% of its defense budget to Ukraine, one of the ten largest in the world in this regard."
At present, most of the weapons and equipment that Slovakia can give to Ukraine have been shipped, except for equipment such as the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter purchased from the United States in a "cage-for-bird" way or through a special discount mechanism.
Former pro-Ukrainian Prime Minister Manuel Pellegrini also said that resources for military aid have been exhausted, although all contracts of Slovak arms manufacturers for the production of weapons and ammunition for Ukraine are still being implemented.
This can be said to be another bad news after the US government compromised to cancel aid to Ukraine in Congress in order to prevent budget shortfalls!