Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will support Ukraine's bid to join the European Union following a phone conversation between the two leaders.
Zelenskyy also said he invited Fico to visit Kyiv, and that Fico reciprocated by inviting him to Bratislava. Both invitations were accepted, according to Zelenskyy's statement, though dates for potential visits have not been announced.
Fico's reported shift comes after months during which Slovakia aligned itself with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Ukraine policy. Orbán has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages and accession talks for Kyiv, earning criticism from other member states who describe Hungary's stance as isolated within the 27-nation bloc.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics within Slovakia and among more Euroskeptic members of parliament have questioned whether Fico's reversal reflects genuine conviction or diplomatic pressure. Some analysts note that Fico previously argued Ukraine had not met the Copenhagen criteria required for EU candidate status.
Hungarian officials have not commented publicly on Fico's reported shift, though government spokesperson Zoltán Kováč described Orbán's position as "defending Hungarian national interests while keeping Europe united."
Some conservative commentators in Central Europe argue that rushing Ukrainian accession could strain EU institutions already facing institutional fatigue. Writing for the Danube Institute, analyst Balázs Orban suggested that "membership timelines should follow technical readiness, not political calendars."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and Western European leaders have welcomed signs of movement from Bratislava. European Council President António Costa called it a "positive signal" in a post on social media, noting that broader EU consensus on Ukraine strengthens the union's negotiating position with Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials have emphasized that maintaining unified EU support remains critical as membership negotiations enter their formal phase. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Fico's reported backing removes an obstacle that had complicated Budapest's efforts to slow the process.
Human rights organizations argue that continued EU engagement with Ukraine serves both strategic and moral imperatives. The Open Society Foundations noted in a recent policy brief that "EU enlargement credibility rests on consistent application of accession criteria, not political convenience."
What the Numbers Show
Ukraine received EU candidate status in June 2022 and formally began accession negotiations in July 2024. The average time for EU enlargement from formal candidacy to membership is approximately four years, though some countries have taken considerably longer.
Slovakia has been an EU member since 2004 and holds 13 of the bloc's 705 seats in the European Parliament. Hungary currently blocks a €6.6 billion military aid package for Ukraine that requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic have been among Ukraine's strongest advocates within the EU, while Hungary and Slovakia had previously coordinated their positions on Kyiv's accession during Fico's first months in office following his government's inauguration last fall.
The Bottom Line
Fico's reported backing removes a potential obstacle to Ukrainian EU accession talks, though Hungary remains an open question. Whether Bratislava's support translates into concrete progress will depend on whether Budapest moderates its blocking strategy or whether the EU finds procedural mechanisms that can proceed without unanimous consent.
The planned reciprocal visits between Zelenskyy and Fico could help solidify any new understanding between Kyiv and Bratislava. If both leaders meet in person, expect discussions to cover not only accession but also bilateral defense cooperation and energy security arrangements.