Robert Fitzo Foto Bernadett Szabo / Reuters
The discussion was prompted by the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which, citing a letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the leadership of the EU institutions, reported about a proposal to extend to Ukraine the mutual defense provision stipulated by the EU treaties. According to the newspaper, this was an interim form of rapprochement with the EU.
Fico noted that he had not seen the corresponding proposal of the Chancellor and believes that in the EU now there is no consensus for such steps, writes RIA Novosti.
“As for the membership of anyone, the conditions must be met,” he said at a press conference broadcast by Slovak TV channel TA3.
According to the prime minister, the process of joining the EU is a long one and requires all criteria to be met. He named Montenegro, Albania and Serbia among the countries that have already advanced further in the negotiations.
The idea of Ukraine’s accelerated rapprochement with the EU is being discussed against the background of statements by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who earlier called for setting a benchmark for the country’s accession to the EU in 2027. However, according to European officials, including the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, there is currently no agreement within the bloc on a specific timeline for enlargement.
