Denník N reported the information.“I cannot agree with the statement of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that I resort to ‘openly offensive rhetoric towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.’ In my social media post yesterday, which caused Ukraine’s reaction, I consistently repeated my position on the Russia–Ukraine conflict,” said the Slovak prime minister, commenting on the Ukrainian MFA’s response to his remarks.Earlier, Fico had commented on the upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, using a proverb: “It doesn’t matter whether elephants fight or have sex, it is always the grass that suffers.”The head of the Slovak government claims: “The war in Ukraine has distorted freedom of speech in the EU. Any opinion differing from the mandatory one is met with sharp criticism and condemnation, even if it is based on objective information.”“As the prime minister of a sovereign country, I will maintain the right to freedom of speech and to a different opinion, even if it causes nervousness among my colleagues in the EU and neighboring Ukraine. Even if my sovereign opinion about the military conflict in Ukraine almost cost me my life,” he added.At the same time, Fico wished Kyiv an immediate and just peace, as well as “an end to the senseless killing of Slavs.”On August 10, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15, would have negative consequences for Ukraine. He used an African proverb: “It doesn’t matter whether elephants fight or have sex, it is always the grass that suffers.” He drew an analogy with the upcoming negotiations, claiming that “whatever the outcome of the elephants’ talks on August 15, it will be the grass — in this case Ukraine — that suffers.”