Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kaliňák has announced the preparation of a new aid package for Ukraine. It includes engineering and mine action assistance. It was reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
"I am very pleased to announce that together with Minister Shmyhal we have signed a memorandum on the 14th support package, which provides for the provision of engineering and mine action assistance to Ukraine by Slovakia," the official said during his opening remarks at the third International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC3) on Monday, October 6r
He added that he is in Kyiv today to identify possible projects with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal to expand "our already quite comprehensive defense cooperation."
According to the Slovak Defense Minister, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the aggressor country of russia, his country has increased its artillery ammunition production capacity by 15 times.
"In addition, we have tripled the production of indirect fire systems. I am very happy and pleased to see my esteemed colleagues from Denmark here, and we have just completed a joint project to supply 16 fully automatic Zuzana howitzers in a few weeks," Kaliňák emphasized.
He also noted that the information voiced at the forum by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Ukraine's ability to produce 40 units of Bohdana air defense systems per month is "a galactic figure."
"The way the Ukrainian industry is improving is really impressive," he added.
Kaliňák also noted that during a recent meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, defense cooperation was identified as one of the main topics of the upcoming fourth joint intergovernmental session.
It is known that Slovakia has provided Ukraine with 13 packages of military assistance since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion. However, in November 2023, Fico's government rejected the 14th package for EUR 40.3 million, limiting further direct military assistance to humanitarian and non-lethal (e.g., demining) will not stand aside from the security architecture of Europe.
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