MEP Katarína Roth Neveďalová, from Slovakia, has been associated with pro-Russian sentiments primarily through her party’s stance and her statements regarding the conflict in Ukraine. She voted against the EU Parliament resolution on Russia’s undemocratic presidential elections and their illegitimate extension to the occupied territories. She abstained from the European Parliament resolution of 2 February 2023 on the preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit, which shows that she favors Russia.
Neveďalová is a member of the SMER – Social Democracy party, which is led by Robert Fico, known for his pro-Russian views and criticism of EU policies regarding Russia. The party has been vocal against sanctions imposed on Russia and has called for peace negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict, aligning with a more favorable view towards Russia compared to many other EU nations.
Katarína Roth Neveďalová once said,
“We think as a political party that we have to call for peace. We feel that attacking from one side and still talking about Putin as a dictator or whatever is not helping the conflict.”
In an interview, Neveďalová expressed opposition to sending weapons to Ukraine and emphasized the need for peace talks. She articulated a belief that the ongoing conflict should not come at the expense of Slovak citizens and indicated that their stance was often misinterpreted as pro-Russian. This perspective aligns with Fico’s government, which has faced criticism for its approach to Russia and Ukraine.
Neveďalová has also criticized the European Union’s handling of member states’ sovereignty and has argued against what she perceives as political bias from EU institutions. She has framed her party’s position as one advocating for national interests rather than outright alignment with Russian policies.
