Slovak defense minister says Ukraine will never join NATO
Photo: Robert Kaliňák, Slovak Minister of Defense (Getty Images)
The Slovak Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine will never join NATO. They also added that defense should be led solely by the North Atlantic Alliance, and the EU should not interfere, TASR reports.
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák expressed in an interview with TASR that the collective defense of EU countries should remain under NATO’s leadership, not the European Union’s.
In his view, two command structures cannot effectively ensure security at the same time.
"Either we are in NATO, and then we don’t need this, or we are in Europe," he said.
Kaliňák also emphasized the lack of prospects for Ukraine’s NATO membership.
"Ukraine will never join NATO, and it will also be difficult for it to join the EU," the minister stated.
He also criticized the role of the coalition of states supporting Ukraine.
"Did it send any soldiers? No, it didn’t. Of course not," Kaliňák noted.
He added that "Ukraine had a chance to end the war back in 2022" and stressed that creating a joint European army could only be a logical step if NATO membership is not an option.
NATO membership as a security guarantee
According to surveys, Ukrainians still see NATO as key to their security, although support has dropped from 55% to 38%. Other studies show that trust in the EU has increased, while trust in NATO has declined, reflecting changes in public sentiment.
Kaliňák’s statements reflect ongoing discussions in the EU about European security and NATO’s role. He previously noted that the only effective mechanism for collective defense is NATO, and that a joint European army is a subject of debate among EU members.
Ukraine participated for the first time in exercises implementing NATO Article 5 mechanisms.
During the Loyal Dolos 2025 drills, Ukrainian experts from the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) participated for the first time in practical work on collective defense scenarios outlined in the Alliance Treaty.
Earlier, the United States also prepared a draft security guarantees plan for Ukraine, which, as part of the so-called peace plan, is based on the logic of NATO’s Article 5. It envisages a coordinated response by Western partners in the event of renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.
