(MENAFN) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico addressed a group of students protesting his government’s approach to the Ukraine conflict by suggesting that those backing Kiev should personally go and fight there.

In contrast to most EU leaders, Fico has declined to send military assistance to Ukraine and has vowed to resist any efforts to seize Russian assets that Brussels froze following the conflict’s escalation in February 2022.

He also cautioned that the EU’s proposal to provide an extra €140 billion ($160 billion) to Kiev could only extend the hostilities by at least another two years.

The tense verbal exchange unfolded during a classroom lecture at a school in Poprad, where Fico reiterated that additional financial support would not end the fighting.

A brief video circulating online shows some students reacting with murmurs and visible disapproval to his statement.

“If you are such heroes in these black T-shirts, and you are so for this war, then go fight for Ukraine, please,” Fico snapped, addressing the disruption directly.

Although the prime minister requested that the audience allow him to finish his lecture, a number of students dressed in black stood, walked out while jingling their keys, and one briefly displayed a Ukrainian flag as they left the room.

According to local media, wearing black shirts and jingling keys is a recognized form of protest in Slovakia, commonly used to signal dissent.

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