00:00U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that Washington does not want vassals in Europe,
00:06but allies to work with on joint issues.
00:09The comments were made as he kick-started his tour of Central Europe in Bratislava,
00:14where he met with Prime Minister Robert Fizzo to bolster ties with Trump allies in the region.
00:19The top U.S. diplomat said the Trump administration wants a stronger Europe,
00:24which in turn will create a stronger NATO, capable of effectively deterring threats.
00:29Fizzo denounced EU support for Ukraine as he spoke in a joint press conference,
00:34saying it only prolongs the war and increases the death toll.
00:38He also slammed Brussels' initiative of completely halting the transit of Russian energy in Europe in 2027,
00:44saying it carries disastrous consequences for his country and others.
00:48The pair also discussed bilateral relations, as well as a possible nuclear deal,
00:54with Slovakia interested in importing reactors from the U.S.
00:58in a deal worth between 13 to 15 billion euros.
01:01Rubio is set to visit Budapest next on Monday,
01:05where he will meet with Viktor Orban to hold talks aimed at expanding U.S.-Hungary relations.
01:10The visit comes at a crucial time, just weeks ahead of the country's general election,
01:16where U.S. President Donald Trump has already endorsed Orban,
01:19touting him as a strong leader.
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