Fico says Slovakia backs Ukraine's EU bid but rejects NATO membership
Photo: Robert Fico and Yulia Svyrydenko (t.me/svyrydenkoy)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, during talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, expressed support for Ukraine’s aspiration to join the European Union, but not NATO, according to a broadcast from the Cabinet of Ministers.
“If your country has made a decision and you believe that your future is in the European Union, we also believe that the fact you will be in the EU will be beneficial for regional stability and for our bilateral relations,” Fico said.
He added that after Ukraine joins the EU, cooperation between the two countries will become even closer. “When you are in the EU, our cooperation can be more intensive than it is now,” the Slovak prime minister noted.
But Fico emphasized that Slovakia holds a different position regarding Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
“We have different views on Ukraine’s NATO membership, although we support Ukraine’s EU membership. I spoke openly about this with President Zelenskyy. I believe that the current state is now good for seeking peace that aligns with the UN Charter,” he said.
The prime minister also said that the sides are preparing a joint roadmap for cooperation.
“The current state of our relations will be confirmed by signing a joint roadmap of joint actions. We will have a supported roadmap of joint initiatives. Essentially, we just want to outline where we stand, what we have already done, what we have agreed on, and what we can add,” Fico summarized.
Meeting between Svyrydenko and Fico
On Friday, October 17, joint talks began in the Slovak city of Košice between Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
According to Svyrydenko, the key topics of the meeting were increasing pressure on the Russian aggressor, forcing it to peace, protecting critical infrastructure, and maintaining European unity.
Robert Fico emphasized that “joint talks between the governments of the Slovak Republic and Ukraine are yielding good results” and that the very fact of such consultations is an important signal for further cooperation.
During the consultations, the sides will discuss the development of the defense industry, Ukraine’s reconstruction, as well as cooperation in agriculture and education.
The talks are being held in Košice, the second-largest city in Slovakia, located in the east of the country, with a population of about 225,000.
