Slovak MEP Lucia Yar is convinced that supporting Ukraine is also an investment in Slovakia’s own security.
In March, the MEP visited Kyiv, where she met representatives of the Ukrainian government and defence industry. Yar stresses that Slovakia cannot stand aside from EU defence decisions, even if Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government is drifting away from Kyiv and closer to Moscow.
“When Europe invests in its own security, Ukraine and Slovakia should take part in this process together, because it aligns with Slovakia’s strategic interests,” she adds.
Yar represents the political movement Progressive Slovakia within the Renew Europe group and has consistently advocated for support for Ukraine at the European Parliament. She serves as Deputy Chair of the Budget Committee and is also a member of the Defence Committee.
The politician emphasises that Ukraine’s European integration is also an opportunity for the development of Slovakia’s eastern regions — from energy and transport connections to education and joint defence projects.
“I wanted to show Ukrainians that Slovakia remains their ally, because they are defending not only themselves but also us every day,” the MEP noted following her visit to Kyiv.
In an interview with Novyny, Yar explained how Ukraine’s future within the EU could affect Slovakia — from security to regional development.
In Slovakia, some people say that supporting Ukraine comes at the expense of Slovak citizens. Do you agree with that?
This perception exists mainly because it is promoted by government politicians and, unfortunately, by some MEPs from Smer and Hlas. It’s as if the Germans or French had said, during the decades when Slovakia and other Central European countries were net recipients of EU funds, that our development came at their expense. That’s simply not true.
Every euro invested in Ukraine’s recovery can generate contracts for Slovak companies, jobs for our people and new markets for Slovak products. Moreover, Ukrainians are heroically defending not only their own country, but also the eastern flank of Europe.
Eastern Slovakia stands to gain the most from good relations. We want better roads and transport hubs that make sense for both trade and everyday travel. Supporting Ukraine is also an investment in our own security — the stronger Ukraine is, the safer Slovakia will be. And that’s something we should all recognise, no matter where in the country we live.
In your “Top 10 from the first year in the European Parliament”, you wrote that helping Ukraine also means helping Slovakia, particularly the eastern regions. What specific benefits could Ukraine’s integration into the EU bring to Slovakia?
I see Ukraine’s integration into the EU as a tremendous opportunity for Slovakia, especially for us in the east. Once Ukraine is ready to join the Union, its development will benefit us too. Cities such as Košice or Prešov could become hubs for new trade routes, logistics parks and investments linking the EU with Ukraine. Slovak companies could cooperate with Ukrainian partners in agriculture, energy and IT, creating new jobs — particularly for young people who currently leave the region.
At the same time, we would gain a stronger and safer neighbourhood. Bratislava has long benefited from its location on the Austrian border, and we know from experience that when our neighbour prospers, we do too. The same will apply to Ukrainians in the west of their country.
What could become — or already is — the true “engine” of cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia: energy, transport, education, or perhaps joint defence projects?
Given my work in the European Parliament, I must first mention defence. This year I visited Ukraine and saw first-hand how quickly defence technologies are advancing there. Slovakia also has many companies and start-ups active in this field, and many are already cooperating with Ukrainian partners — because they can test their products directly on the battlefield.
Ukraine has particularly strong experience in drone production and innovation, something the Slovak armed forces must also embrace. Slovakia has great potential here, which it can further develop in cooperation with Ukraine.
Energy is another strong motivation for closer collaboration — a key part of Europe’s gas and electricity still flows through Slovakia. In the future, we can jointly develop renewable energy projects and improve interconnection with Ukraine’s grid. Cross-border transport and education are expanding too, and tourism has real potential. Ukrainian students are coming to our universities, bringing new ideas, openness and talent.
Equally important is the exchange of know-how in cognitive security. We must help Europeans learn how to protect themselves from hoaxes and disinformation spread by Russia and other hostile regimes.
You have been appointed chief negotiator of the European Parliament for the so-called “Defence Readiness Omnibus”. What is the main goal of this initiative, and what could it mean for Slovakia — perhaps in cooperation with Ukraine in the defence sector?
Supporting Ukraine and integrating the Ukrainian defence industry into a broader European industrial base is part of several joint defence initiatives currently under discussion and planned for the near future. Whether through the SAFE joint loan system or the EDIP industrial support programme, Europe understands that we must effectively strengthen and expand our defence capacities to respond to the threat from Russia. Ukraine has a key role to play in this.
As a member of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), I am directly involved in these preparations. The aim of the “Defence Readiness Omnibus” legislative package is to remove unnecessary bureaucracy and adapt EU rules to urgent security needs.
The parts I am working on are designed to simplify defence procurement and export licensing across member states and to speed up approval processes for defence projects, which currently discourage many companies from participating in tenders. Small and medium-sized enterprises must have a fair opportunity to compete for contracts that until recently were reserved for the “big players”.
More than 130,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection currently live in Slovakia. Can their presence bring benefits to both them and local communities?
Absolutely. I believe that countries which have welcomed foreigners and helped them to thrive are richer — both culturally and economically. Everyone should understand that Ukrainians did not come to Slovakia to take advantage of the social system.
Even if we look at it purely from a fiscal or “cynical” point of view, according to the government’s Institute for Financial Policy, Ukrainians already contribute more to the Slovak state budget through taxes and levies than they receive from it.
Ukrainian culture, which is close to Slovak — and even more so to Rusyn culture, which is personal to me through my grandmother — is also enriching our country: from new artists and organisations to community activities and restaurants where you can enjoy excellent pierogi. That too is part of culture and sharing.
The EU Council has adopted new recommendations for the gradual phase-out of temporary protection for Ukrainians. This mechanism will remain in place until March 2027, but scenarios for the period afterwards are already being discussed. How does the European Parliament view these plans, and which options — transition to other statuses, return programmes, or integration support — could be most important for Ukrainians in the EU?
Temporary protection is, by its nature, temporary — so it will eventually end. We are, of course, aware of this, but in the European Parliament we want the process to be fair and predictable. Many Ukrainians who came to Slovakia or other countries because of the war have already built new lives here. It is only natural that they should have the chance to stay, work, run businesses or study without unnecessary bureaucracy.
We should not see them as guests, but as an asset to our communities and economy — because that is what they are. From a long-term and demographic perspective, Slovakia’s economy cannot grow without welcoming workers from abroad. At the same time, Ukrainians who wish to return home after the war also deserve support — because a new, strong and European Ukraine cannot be built without skilled and educated people.
We must ensure that those who work, study or have families here can seamlessly transition to another legal status, such as temporary or permanent residence, if they meet the conditions. The key is that no one should fall into a “legal vacuum”.
You are actively working on legislation to protect minorities from discrimination and hate speech. In Poland, a recent case in Gdansk — where a city councillor clashed with a Ukrainian taxi driver — showed that war and migration can provoke sensitive social reactions. We often hear remarks such as “go back home”, even though returning is not possible for many Ukrainians. How do you think Slovakia is responding to the presence of a large Ukrainian community? And to what extent do political statements influence public attitudes?
Most Slovaks have responded with great solidarity and empathy, especially in the first months of the war, and many have not lost that humanity even now. Unfortunately, political rhetoric filled with anger and prejudice can quickly weaken this understanding. Combined with the poor economic situation created by the Smer government through its ill-designed consolidation plan, some Slovaks are easily persuaded to believe in a fictitious enemy.
The words of political leaders set the tone for society as a whole. That is why it is crucial to strengthen what unites us, rather than to spread fear.
In Ukraine, people are closely watching PM Robert Fico’s policies, as he openly expresses sympathy for Russia and criticises military support for Ukraine. How does this affect Slovakia’s position in the European Parliament and the EU?
At the political level within the EU, neither Robert Fico nor his government is regarded as reliable or trustworthy. Our partners simply do not count on Slovakia as a first-choice ally. Unfortunately, everywhere we go — including here in Brussels — we hear that Slovakia is seen as a Trojan horse for Russia.
We saw this, for example, during the initial talks on the European Commission’s plan to build a new “drone wall”, when representatives of all eastern border states were invited — except Slovakia and Hungary. This is the image of Slovakia created by Fico’s government, and in the current situation it poses a serious security risk for Slovak citizens.
When you meet people across different regions of Slovakia, how do they react to the topic of Ukraine? Is there more support or more doubt?
My meetings around the country confirm that the loud voices on the internet and in comment sections do not represent the majority. Across Slovakia, I meet people who, while expressing some concerns, remain empathetic. Of course, occasionally there is a protest voice — and I try to talk patiently and understand what lies behind it.
Often it’s simply a misunderstanding of why Ukraine’s security is vital for our own. Rarely have I met anyone who refuses to listen to either reason or emotion. Even sceptical or weary people tend to show understanding — especially when you help them imagine how events in Ukraine could affect their own lives, and ask what they would do if they were in their neighbours’ place.