Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini has rejected the request of four Slovak nationals to serve in the Ukrainian army.
Under the country’s laws, Slovakian citizens can join a foreign state’s army only if allowed to by the president. Otherwise, serving in a foreign army constitutes a crime.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged citizens of other European nations to join them in their protection of Ukraine.
An International Legion was launched at the beginning of the war, with military intelligence saying last year that citizens from over fifty countries had joined the unit, including military veterans from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, Europe, and beyond.
In alignment with nationalist-sovereignist Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Peter Pellegrini has rejected military support for Ukraine, instead opting to pursue a policy that advocates peace talks.
In contrast to Pellegrini, his predecessor, Zuzana Čaputová, had approved similar applications.In the neighbouring Czech Republic, President Petr Pavel also permitted 60 Czech citizens to serve with Ukrainian forces.
