BRATISLAVA, March 10. /TASS/. Political reasons may outweigh actual compliance of Ukraine with requirements brought to candidate nations for joining the European Union, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico said.

"I wish Ukraine become the European Union member-nation but when it will be ready [to conform to criteria for candidate nations]," the Slovak Prime Minister said in a video posted on his page in Facebook [prohibited in Russia due to its ownership by Meta, which has been designated as extremist - TASS]. "I have concerns that purely political criteria, rather than criteria of actual readiness of the country, will prevail in respect of Ukraine," Fico noted.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia reminded about the high level of corruption in Ukraine but EU executive authorities consider politically incorrect to talk on this topic, according to him. Implementation of the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU will not move forward while the military conflict continues, Fico added.

"We [the Slovak government] are attempting to open the topic of immediate ceasefire, stoppage of fighting and the start of negotiations," the Prime Minister said. "Russia is living [successfully] in terms of the economy and the politics; President [Vladimir] Putin has strong support," Fico noted. "I state that the West’s strategy in Ukraine does not work," he added. The strategy requires revision, Fico said.

He also spoke against attempts to cancel the veto right in the EU when making decisions and for protection of the European market against deliveries of Ukrainian agricultural produce, which resulted in protests of farmers in Europe.