'Not a single round': Slovak election could see Kyiv lose staunch ally

FILE PHOTO: Slovakia's former Prime Minister and leader of SMER-SSD party Robert Fico attends the party's election campaign rally, ahead of Slovakia's early parliamentary election in Banovce nad Bebravou, Slovakia, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo

BANOVCE NAD BEBRAVOU, Slovakia (Reuters) - "We are a peaceful country. We will not send a single round to Ukraine."

That was Robert Fico's blunt message for some 300 supporters at a political rally last week in the western Slovakian town of Banovce nad Bebravou, ahead of a Sept. 30 election that the populist former prime minister is favourite to win.