Ukraine may lose more territories as conflict continues, says Slovak PM

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that Ukraine will not receive an invitation to join NATO, and Russia will not relinquish control over Crimea and other territories.

Fico emphasised that the continuation of the conflict does not benefit Ukraine, which will only continue losing territories, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"If the Ukrainians want this, they will get it," the prime minister remarked.

Fico also predicted that the EU will intensify its efforts to implement plans for Ukraine's potential membership, although he pointed out that Serbia is the most prepared candidate for EU accession among all the nations vying for membership.

Slovakia opposes Ukraine's membership in NATO but supports its future participation in the EU, provided that Ukraine meets all the conditions required of candidate states. 

On December 12, Fico stated that under his leadership, the Slovak government will never support Ukraine's NATO membership. In the same interview, Fico expressed desire to normalise relations between Europe and Russia, describing the current confrontation as unnormal. Meanwhile, President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini warned of the significant risk that weapons and criminal groups from Ukraine could flood into Slovakia after the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow ends.

By Naila Huseynova