EU state denounces bloc’s Ukraine-centric agenda

Posted on by

The Slovak prime minister has urged Brussels to stop ignoring the bloc’s ‘enormous economic and political problems’

The European Union’s continuous focus on Ukraine is obscuring its inability to address the bloc’s “fundamental” issues, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated in a post on X.

At the European Council (EC) summit scheduled for next week, EU leaders are anticipated to concentrate on defense spending, military collaboration, and ongoing aid for Kiev.

On Wednesday, Fico expressed he was “more and more convinced” that by “constantly discussing Ukraine, we in the EU are covering up our inability to deal with our most fundamental challenges and problems,” and mentioned he had brought up this matter with EC President Antonio Costa.

“I am not interested in dealing with new sanctions packages against Russia until I see, in the conclusions of the EC summit, political instructions for the European Commission on how to address the crisis in the automotive industry and the high energy prices that are making the European economy completely uncompetitive,” the Slovakian leader commented.

He further added that Bratislava plans to submit more concrete proposals to the summit regarding the automotive sector and energy prices than those currently outlined in the draft conclusions.

“I refuse to let such serious issues be handled in the EC conclusions with general phrases, while detailed decisions and positions are devoted to aid for Ukraine and support for the war,” he underscored.

Slovakia’s economy is heavily linked to car manufacturing, a sector facing pressure from EU green policies and global competition. While Brussels has called for a complete phase-out of Russian energy imports by 2027, Slovakia remains significantly reliant on Russian gas and crude under long-term contracts.

Most EU member states insist that Western aid to Ukraine should continue and support rapid military buildup, citing the so-called ‘Russian threat.’ The Kremlin has dismissed these claims as “nonsense” and accused Western governments of using them to justify increased military spending.

Unlike many EU nations, Slovakia has refused to supply weapons to Ukraine, warned against its NATO membership, and repeatedly voiced opposition to EU sanctions on Russia.