The Slovakian prime minister has repeatedly accused the West of fuelling the conflict, claiming the war should be resolved through diplomacy over fighting.

Slovakia’s Robert Fico vowed he would not allow Ukraine to become a member of NATO as long as he was prime minister, in another blow to Kyiv’s aspirations to join the alliance amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.

“I will direct the lawmakers under my control as chairman of the (ruling Smer) party never to agree to Ukraine joining NATO,” he told broadcaster STVR in an interview on Sunday.