The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, confirmed in his latest statement his support for Ukraine’s aspiration to join the European Union, emphasizing the need to fulfill all the conditions for this historic step
This serves as an important signal from Bratislava ahead of upcoming negotiations between Ukrainian and Slovak authorities, scheduled for the fall, and highlights Slovakia’s desire to stand alongside Ukraine in its European integration efforts. On June 16, in comments for the publication "European Pravda," Fico noted that his country has already received €101 million in funding from the European Union budget. These funds are primarily intended to improve Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and Slovak companies have the opportunity to access this money through long-term loans backed by guarantees from European institutions. According to the Prime Minister, this will enable Slovak enterprises to participate in implementing significant projects in Ukraine, thereby strengthening the ties between the two countries and contributing to European stability in the region. Fico stressed that supporting Ukraine’s EU accession is relevant for Slovakia and fully aligns with its foreign policy positions. He added that during the autumn government negotiations, possible joint initiatives and projects—eligible for funding from European structures—will be discussed. "We want to see Ukraine develop as a European country in terms of standards and development because we believe its path should be supported with all available resources," he emphasized. He also added that Ukraine must meet several criteria for accession, including conducting reforms and ensuring legal stability. According to official information on the Slovak government’s website, Ukraine’s membership in the European Union would open significantly more opportunities for Kyiv in development, investments, reforms, and integration into the European space than it would bring negatives. Slovakia’s authorities believe that such integration will promote stability, economic growth, and the strengthening of democracy in Ukraine. It is worth noting that earlier this year, Slovak government officials recommended supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration course, emphasizing the importance of integrating the Ukrainian population and developing cooperation in security and economic spheres. At the same time, the young politician, former Foreign Minister and current Prime Minister Fico, previously expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s readiness to commence official EU accession negotiations, noting that the country still has a long way to go in reform and stabilization processes. He also explicitly stated that Slovakia would not block or hinder Ukraine’s accession process if Kyiv meets all necessary criteria. Importantly, Fico is firmly opposed to the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, expressing skepticism regarding military and security aspects, and emphasizing that the primary support for Kyiv should come from European integration, rather than military alliances that could potentially cause additional tensions in the region. Thus, Slovakia’s stance once again demonstrates openness to supporting Ukraine’s efforts to join the European family. The main task now is to meet all requirements and carry out the necessary reforms to move to the next stage of the EU integration process. Although opposition to NATO membership remains, support for Ukraine’s European movement remains firm and unwavering.