Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday said that some countries that are part of NATO and the European Union are considering sending troops to Ukraine on a bilateral basis.
Fico has long opposed supplying military aid to the country that has been involved in war going on for two years now.
"I will limit myself to say that these theses (in preparation for the Paris meeting) imply a number of NATO and EU member states are considering that they will send their troops to Ukraine on a bilateral basis," he said prior to a meeting with European leaders in Paris on Monday, according to Reuters.
"I cannot say for what purpose and what they should be doing there," he added, also saying that Slovakia would not be sending troops to Ukraine.
NATO did not respond to a request for comment from the outlet's reporting on the events.
When asked about the claim made by Rico, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said, "The Czech Republic certainly is not preparing to send any soldiers to Ukraine, nobody has to worry about that."
The Slovak PM added that he saw dangers of a large escalation of the conflict, but he could not reveal any more information.
Around 20 leaders from Europe will gather later on Monday to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a message of allyship with Ukraine in the war. They are also countering the message that Russia could still win the war against the other country.
Fico said that the calling of the meeting is only a sign that the West's strategy to help Ukraine in the war has failed.
