Slovak official calls on Ukraine to repay €3.5 billion in aid
Photo: Deputy Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia Andrej Danko (Getty Images)
Andrej Danko, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak National Council, stated that Ukraine owes Slovakia €3.5 billion, claiming this is the amount provided by previous Slovak governments in aid to Ukraine, according to Radio Free Europe.
Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party, referenced an upcoming mineral deal between Ukraine and the United States. He emphasized that US President Donald Trump wants to recover the funds allocated by the Biden administration for aid.
"If the Germans, French, and Americans demand repayment, Slovakia cannot stay silent," Danko remarked.
The Slovak politician further asserted that after three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, people are beginning to wake up to the situation.
"Ukraine used this conflict to obtain financial assistance, which they often misappropriated," he said.
In October 2023, Slovakia’s government, led by pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico, decided to halt new military aid to Ukraine. Fico also announced that he would not support sanctions against Russia.
Agreement between Ukraine and the US
Washington proposed an agreement on rare earth metals to Ukraine, offering the creation of a $500 billion fund. This is the deal mentioned by Andrej Danko in his address.
The US planned to secure economic and managerial rights over the fund, with profits from resource sales intended to serve as "compensation" for American aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the amount of support from the United States was $100 billion and it cannot be considered a debt.
According to NBC News, Donald Trump’s administration proposed Ukraine transfer 50% of the rights to the rare earth metals to the US and expressed willingness to deploy American troops to secure the mining sites.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, stated that negotiations with the US on this matter are in the final stages.
At the same time, Axios revealed new details about the draft agreement between the US and Ukraine on rare earth metals.
