Slovak Parliament Vice Speaker Rejects Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine's Military Needs

Tibor Gašpar, a vice speaker of the Slovak Parliament, has said that confiscating frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine's military needs is unacceptable. European Pravda reported his remarks, which he made in an interview with the Russian agency TASS.

Gašpar said Slovakia wants any move on the frozen assets to follow a thorough legal assessment. He also called for caution and for the long-term consequences of any decision to be weighed carefully.

He pointed to the position of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who in November 2025 voiced disagreement with a proposal to seize the assets and put them toward Ukraine's military spending. "Such an approach towards confrontation and confiscation is unacceptable," Gašpar said.

According to Gašpar, Fico drew particular attention to several risks. These included possible litigation, the danger of retaliatory measures and the effect such a step could have on future peace negotiations.

Gašpar added that Fico also suggested a different use for the money. Directing the assets toward Ukraine's post-war reconstruction could be more appropriate than using them to fund continued military operations, he said.

He said Slovakia wants any decision in this area to rest on a clear legal basis and to comply with international obligations. Bratislava also wants to minimise the risk of a further deterioration in international relations, he said.

In his view, sustainable ways of financing Ukraine's reconstruction should be sought. Such solutions, he argued, would support regional stability and help create conditions for lasting peace.

The debate over the assets continues elsewhere in Europe. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever recently said he is confident the European Commission will not reopen discussions on using frozen Russian assets held in Euroclear to finance Ukraine. At the EU leaders' summit on 16 October, De Wever firmly opposed talks on using the frozen assets of Russia's Central Bank.

Meanwhile, Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has proposed a phased approach to using Russian funds frozen in Europe for Ukraine's needs. He believes the idea could help shift Belgium's position.