Fico, who has kept close ties with Moscow and opposes sending military aid to Ukraine, told viewers that the West was "pouring fuel on the fire" of the Ukraine war and that the failure of the strategy to defeat Russia had led certain officials to pursue a war between NATO and Russia at any cost.
"We face a mortal danger," the Slovak leader said, adding that "certain war hawks within NATO are trying, at any cost, to turn this war into a conflict between Russia and NATO."
He argued that because the Ukrainian army and full Western support have not achieved the goal of destroying Russia, some Western politicians now believe the only way forward is to trigger a direct confrontation, a claim he presented as a warning rather than an accusation against any specific country.
Earlier in the week, Fico warned that a drone incursion could activate NATO’s collective defence clause under Article 5, and he reiterated that Slovakia would not send its soldiers to fight under a fabricated pretext, emphasizing the country's desire to avoid being drawn into a broader conflict.
Fico’s statements come amid a broader debate in Europe over the war’s trajectory. While he rejects military assistance for Kyiv, other leaders have highlighted the threat of Russian hybrid attacks. French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia was intensifying such attacks, citing an attempted drone strike on Leipzig airport in August that German authorities linked to Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also warned, citing unnamed intelligence sources, that Russia plans hybrid drone and missile attacks against nations that support Ukraine, underscoring the heightened security concerns across the continent.
Fico’s remarks underline the tension within NATO between members who favour a more cautious approach to the Ukraine conflict and those who see a need for stronger deterrence against Russian aggression. Slovakia remains a NATO member, but its leader’s vocal opposition to any escalation could influence alliance discussions on collective defence and future engagement in the region.