Robert Fico doubles down on pro-Russia stance after Slovakia election win

The populist Smer leader, who has pledged to end military aid to Ukraine, says he is ready to open talks on forming a coalition government

Slovakia's populist former prime minister, Robert Fico, who campaigned on a pledge to end military aid to Ukraine, has said his position has not changed" after his party's clear election win made him favourite to lead the country for a fourth time.

Fico told reporters he was waiting for Slovakia's president to give him a mandate to start forming a government - expected on Monday - after officials said on Sunday that Smer-SD had scored 22.9% in Saturday's vote with 99.98% of ballots counted.