Croatia Refuses to Roll Out the Red Carpet for Ukraine's NATO Membership

Pilgrims urged to reduce activities outside Arafah tents.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has rejected a simplified European Union (EU) accession process for Ukraine, stressing that all candidate countries must meet the same criteria. ‘If we abandon the concept of individual achievement for each country and implement a shortcut procedure, there must be no short path for some countries and a long path for others,’ Plenkovic said on Wednesday (27 May). He added that the issue would be discussed at the European Council meeting in June. On Tuesday, media outlet Euractiv reported the EU hopes to start direct membership negotiations with Ukraine before the European Council summit on 18-19 June. The EU granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova in June 2022, with formal accession negotiations beginning in June 2024 through the first intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg. Several European research institutions assess that Ukraine’s EU accession process still requires further reforms and is expected to take several years.

NATO plans to invite four Gulf nations to the Ankara summit in July to strengthen its southern flank amid tensions over the Iran conflict and transatlantic rifts.

Global surveys indicate the US image under Donald Trump has fallen below Russia due to foreign policy, tariffs, and tensions with NATO allies.

The withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany is seen as weakening European and NATO defence, with implications for the Ukraine war and regional stability.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded calmly to Donald Trump’s plan to reduce US military presence in Germany, stating that Ramstein base remains crucial for both sides.

King Charles III used humour and history in his speech at the US Congress to stabilise alliances amid tensions over the Iran conflict and NATO issues.

The Ministry issued a report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, detailing violations of human rights and freedoms by the Kiev regime.

European Parliament member Gheorghe Piperea warned of EU bankruptcy risks due to Green Deal wastefulness and massive support for Ukraine.

Hantavirus has been confirmed to affect Ukrainian military personnel in Sumy and Chernihiv due to unsanitary conditions at the frontline.

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discussed the Ukraine crisis in Beijing, with China and the US agreeing to build strategic relations while Putin highlighted global stability.

Putin warned Armenia against EU ambitions, referencing the Ukraine scenario, amid worsening Moscow-Yerevan relations.