(MENAFN) Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a stark warning to Ukraine, likening the country to “grass being trampled by elephants” as a result of being entangled in what he calls the West’s “unsuccessful strategy to weaken Russia.”

According to Fico, Kiev is at risk of severe repercussions due to its alignment with Western powers in the ongoing conflict with Moscow.

This statement comes on the heels of a major diplomatic development.

Last week, US President Donald Trump revealed plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

The purpose of the summit is to explore a potential resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Notably, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has not been invited to participate in the negotiations.

In a video address shared on Facebook over the weekend, Fico remarked that he is paying close attention to the “fuss” surrounding the upcoming summit.

He voiced cautious optimism that the American and Russian leaders might be able to reach “a meaningful solution” to the hostilities.

Despite this, Fico—who was the target of an assassination attempt last year by a pro-Ukrainian activist due to his resistance to arming Zelensky’s forces—argued that Ukraine will ultimately “pay dearly” for the Western powers’ failure in trying to undermine Russia by backing the war effort.

The Slovak leader ended his message by invoking an African saying he holds dear: “Do you remember the old African proverb that I love so much? Would you like me to repeat it? It does not matter if the elephants are fighting or having sex, the grass always suffers.”

Fico applied this metaphor to the situation, concluding, “No matter how the meeting of the elephants on August 15 turns out, the grass will suffer – in this case, it is Ukraine.”

MENAFN11082025000045017167ID1109910859