BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico reacted angrily on Friday after the U.K. ambassador to Bratislava criticized his interview with Russia’s Rossiya 1 state-owned television, saying, “Slovakia is not Britain’s colony.”
“I don’t know what gives you a right to interfere in my media activities,” Fico said in a video sent by his office. He is currently on a visit to China.
“That you represent a bigger and stronger state in Slovakia does not justify your unacceptable behavior,” Fico said, calling on Ambassador Nigel Baker to stop interfering in his government's sovereign foreign policy.
In his interview for the Russian propaganda channel, Fico condemned Western support for Ukraine that is fighting the Russian aggression, repeating his opinion it only prolongs the war and accusing the European nations of not being interested in a peaceful resolution.
Baker said on X on Wednesday he regretted that Fico agreed to talk to a presenter who is under British and European Union sanctions and said Fico’s claim that the West doesn’t want peace is not true. He also said that the fastest way to peace would be the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Fico returned to power for the fourth time last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.
His views on Russia’s war on Ukraine and other issues sharply differ from the European mainstream. Fico ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine, opposes EU sanctions on Russia, and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
In the interview with Russian TV, he said it would be an honor for him to attend a traditional military parade in Red Square in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII on May 9 next year.
The interview was condemned by Slovakia's opposition and politicians in the neighboring Czech Republic.
FILE - Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives to a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
Washington (6-2) at New York Giants (2-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX
BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 4
Series record: Giants lead 108-72-5.
Against the spread: Giants 3-5; Commanders 6-2.
Last meeting: Commanders beat Giants 21-18 on Sept. 15 in Landover, Maryland.
Last week: Commanders beat Bears 18-15 at home. The Giants lost to the Steelers 26-18 in Pittsburgh Monday night.
Commanders offense: overall (3), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (3)
Commanders defense: overall (13), rush (25) pass (6), scoring (10)
Giants offense: overall (26), rush (24), pass (23), scoring (31)
Giants defense: overall (13), rush (25), pass (6), scoring (10)
Turnover differential: Commanders plus-4; Giants minus-3.
RB Brian Robinson Jr. A national audience has seen (twice) what QB Jayden Daniels can do, and he's the offensive rookie of the year favorite for a reason. But Washington's offense has been so effective because of balance, and it's not just Daniels taking off and running. Robinson has rushed for 461 yards and six touchdowns this season, the Commanders' game without him is the only one they've lost since the season opener. He ran for a career-best 133 yards on 17 carries against New York in September.
CB Deonte Banks. The 2023 first-round draft pick was benched for the second half of the nationally televised game against the Steelers. It has been a bad year for him. He was lifted after missing a tackle Monday. Banks started the season as the Giants' projected shut-down cornerback. Coach Brian Daboll said he will start Sunday.
The Giants defense versus Daniels. In the first game, the Commanders gained 425 yards, held the ball for 37:32, were 8 of 15 on third and fourth down attempts and did not punt. New York stayed close because Washington was 0 for 6 in the red zone and it had 10 penalties for 69 yards.
Daniels has sore ribs that limited him in practice, but he is expected to play. ... Rookie LT Brandon Coleman could return from a concussion, while veteran LT Cornelius Lucas is out with a left ankle injury. ... The Giants won't have K Greg Joseph (abdomen) or P Jamie Gillan (hamstring) available. With Graham Gano still out after being injured against Washington in Week 2, rookie Jude McAtamney may be elevated off the practice squad to kick. ... RB Tyrone Tracy cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play, as is CB Cor’Dale Flott, who missed the Steelers game with a groin injury. ... LB Ty Summers (ankle) is questionable.
Washington looking for its first sweep since 2021. Giants have won three of the past four meetings.
Washington is 4-0 at home for the first time since 1978 and is 2-2 on the road. ... Washington has not started 7-2 since 1996. ... The Commanders are the fourth team since 1950 and first since the 2016 Cowboys to win six of their first eight games starting a rookie QB. ... Daniels had a career-high 326 yards passing against Chicago. He has completed 71.8% of his passes, ranking second to Detroit's Jared Goff among players with at least 100 attempts. ... Last week was the first time Washington won a game with a TD on the last play in regulation since at least 1970. ... Robinson has five TDs in his past five games. ... WR Terry McLaurin had a season-high 125 yards receiving last week. ... TE Zach Ertz has had 50-plus yards receiving in four consecutive games against New York. ... DT Daron Payne picked up his first full sack of the season against the Bears. ... Giants have lost three straight. They are 0-4 at home and have not scored a first-half touchdown in any of those games. ... QB Daniel Jones threw for 264 yards against the Steelers. He had two TD passes and no interceptions against Washington in September. ... Tracy's 145 yards rushing was the highest total by a Giants rookie since Saquon Barkley ran for 179 yards at Washington on Dec. 9, 2018. His 45-yard TD run was the Giants’ longest offensive play of the season. ... WR Darius Slayton had four catches for 108 yards Monday. ... The Giants have an NFL-high 35 sacks, one more than last season. ... OLB Azeez Ojulari has two sacks last week and five in the past three games. DT Dexter Lawrence leads the NFL with nine sacks. ... The Giants haven’t intercepted a pass in seven straight. ... ILB Bobby Okereke had 14 tackles and forced and recovered a fumble Monday.
This is the LSU matchup: Daniels and Malik Nabers on the same field again. In his second game after missing two with a concussion, he caught seven passes for 71 yards. He has 46 catches for 498 yards in six games. He is the third player in the Super Bowl era with 40-plus receptions through his first six career games, joining Barkley (40 in 2018) and the Rams’ Puka Nacua (50 in 2023).
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) celebrates after tackling Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn watches from the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll answers questions after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) leaves the field after an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) catches a 52-yard touchdown pass in the end zone as time expires to give the Commanders an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
