Slovak Minister Blanar: NATO Says Ukraine Can't Join Alliance

Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said that other NATO member states have recognized that Ukraine cannot become a NATO member and that alternative forms of cooperation with Kyiv should be pursued. He reiterated that Slovakia will continue providing humanitarian assistance and non‑lethal support, including de‑mining systems, excavators, water tankers and detectors.

Blanar highlighted Turkey as Slovakia’s NATO ally and defended cooperation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan despite criticism of his government. He traveled to Ankara with President Peter Pellegrini and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak for the NATO summit, which will hold a leaders’ session on 8 July and a bilateral meeting between Pellegrini and Erdogan on 9 July.