Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expresses discontent over Fico's analogy likening the country to trampled grass under elephants.
The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has found himself at the centre of a diplomatic row with Ukraine following his use of an African proverb during a recent political discourse. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Fico's statements indicate a disrespectful attitude towards his own people.
The proverb, traditionally used to illustrate the collateral damage suffered by small nations amid the conflicts or rivalries of great powers, was applied by Fico to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He suggested that regardless of the outcome of talks between the "elephants" (the U.S. and Russia), it would be Ukraine—the "grass"—that ultimately suffers.
Fico made these comments in the context of his earlier use of the African proverb in relation to Ukraine's relationship with Slovakia. His metaphor framed Ukraine as the victim of geopolitical power plays between Russia and the U.S., underscoring his stance that the conflict has deep historical roots and lacks a military solution.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine finds Fico's use of the proverb inappropriate and disrespectful. They consider his statements as the opposite of "good neighbourliness". It is not specified whether this statement was made in the context of the news article.
In a related development, Fico wished for Putin and Trump to find a "meaningful" solution to the conflict in Ukraine during their meeting. Despite his concerns, his comments regarding the conflict suggest a lack of consideration for Ukraine's sovereignty and dignity.
Returning to power in 2023, Fico has pursued closer ties with Russia, suspended military aid to Ukraine, and opposed some EU sanctions. His use of the proverb aligns with his broader claim that the West’s policies have failed to weaken Russia and that Ukraine faces serious costs due to this geopolitical miscalculation.
The African proverb, thus, contextualizes the Ukraine war as involving asymmetric power dynamics, where Ukraine is vulnerable to the consequences of great power negotiations over its territory and fate. The proverb, as used by Fico, illustrates a centuries-old insight about power imbalances in conflicts, applied here to criticize the involvement of great powers in the Ukraine war and to highlight the plight of Ukraine as a small nation caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the U.S.
The Slovak Prime Minister's use of an African proverb in relation to the Ukraine crisis sparks controversy, as it is viewed by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as disrespectful and a lack of good neighborliness, particularly given Fico's stance on the complexities and power imbalances in war-and-conflicts. Furthermore, in policy-and-legislation discussions, Fico's approach towards Ukraine seems to disregard its sovereignty and dignity, shedding light on the political implications of his ongoing general-news comments.
