Coalition Partner Threatens to Leave Government Over Ukraine EU Membership Stance

Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), threatened to withdraw from Slovakia's ruling coalition over disagreements about Ukraine's European Union membership bid. Danko accused Smer-SD, the dominant coalition party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, of supporting Ukraine's EU accession while the war with Russia continues. The SNS leader stated he supports negotiations between Ukraine and the EU about membership, but insists they should only begin after the conflict ends. The dispute highlights tensions within Slovakia's three-party coalition government, which has taken a controversial stance on the Ukraine war that differs from most EU members. Smer-SD, a social-democratic party, has criticized military aid to Ukraine and called for peace negotiations, while the SNS represents nationalist positions often aligned with pro-Russian sentiment.