Slovakia to Aid Ukraine but Questions Sufficiency of US and European Defence Capabilities
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has confirmed that his country will participate in NATO's $40 billion package for Ukraine and count the cost as part of its two per cent defence spending, but worries that Ukraine will be short of air defence.
"A few more air defence units for Ukraine means that NATO member states will not have enough, and Slovakia will probably be left without effective air defence," he said.
Peter Pellegrini is scheduled to speak at the NATO Summit and the associated Public Forum on "what are the capabilities of the defence industry in the United States and Europe as a whole so that we can implement plans for common air defence in the Eastern air defence wing".
According to Petr Pellegrini, Slovakia also "supports Ukraine's maximum efforts to integrate into the European Union and will provide all its know-how for reforms".
"But we insist on the text that refers to Ukraine's future membership in NATO that this issue can be opened only when there is peace in Ukraine and no war," he said. He added that this will be the case if the relevant conditions are met and all NATO member states agree to it.
The United States and other NATO countries will soon send dozens of air defence systems to Ukraine, including the Patriot system.