Prime Minister Eduard Heger confirmed on Friday that Slovakia had donated the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. “I believe that this defense system will help save as many innocent lives as possible from the aggression of the Putin regime,” he said in a video he made on the train on his way to Kiev and published on the social network.
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“Donating this system does not mean that Slovakia has become part of an armed conflict. I want to assure all citizens of the Slovak Republic that the protection of our territory is sufficiently secured and will be strengthened in the coming days by another system from our allies, “added the Prime Minister of Slovakia.
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Slovakia initially rejected Ukraine’s request for the supply of an S-300 anti-missile system because it did not have adequate compensation for it. However, in the meantime, three batteries of the Patriot anti-missile system, which were supplied to the country by Germany and the Netherlands, began to protect Slovakia’s airspace.
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Heger is in Ukraine with the top of the European Commission
Despite this, the Slovak Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď (OLaNO) has repeatedly emphasized that Slovakia cannot supply the S-300 to Ukraine, as Kyiv requested, because the Patriot batteries are only temporary in the country and Slovakia does not have adequate compensation for the S-300.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also arrived in Ukraine with Heger. In Kiev, they are to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The delegation also includes the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell.
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Heger has previously stated on the social network that he came up with a specific proposal for help for Ukraine. “With the help of gaining the EU perspective with the help of the reform team and offering the possibility of transporting cereals to the world, because Ukraine is one of the largest exporters and ports have been blocked by Russia,” Heger said.
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Slovakia wants to offer the transport of Ukrainian wheat by rail in order to reduce the pressure to increase its price.
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Before traveling to Kiev, Heger said that Slovakia would offer Ukraine experts to investigate the crimes of the Russian army. “Slovakia supports the creation of an international tribunal to punish war criminals in Ukraine. That is why I want to offer President Volodymyre Zelenský a team of our experts in the investigation of war crimes of the Russian army, “Heger emphasized.
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The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized that the priority for Ukraine’s European democratic perspective and for Slovakia’s security is the military success of the Ukrainians in order to expel Russian aggressors from their territory.
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The Prime Minister of Slovakia faced criticism for not joining the March prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia to Kiev. Heger justified this at the time, saying that security experts did not recommend him a trip at the time.
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