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Slovak Prime Minister Warns Ukraine of ‘Ultimate Disintegration’

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Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday warned Ukraine about the perils associated with the European and possibly NATO integration, saying the east European nation was tittering on the brink of an ultimate collapse.

PRAGUE, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday warned Ukraine about the perils associated with the European and possibly NATO integration, saying the east European nation was tittering on the brink of an ultimate collapse.

"I think that Ukraine will find it hard to stand against all the challenges associated with the EU integration, because it is now facing an absolute disintegration… I also disagree with the assumption that Ukraine could one day become a NATO member since this would undermine security in the region," Fico said in an interview with the Bratislava-based newspaper Novy Cas.

"Only diplomatic steps can put an end to what is now happening in Ukraine. Look, there's already been a third wave of senseless sanctions, and what has changed? Nothing. We can only expect more firm response measures from Russia," the Slovak official noted.

Robert Fico also told the country's daily that he would sooner step down than see a NATO military base built in Slovakia.

"I would rather quit politics than agree to a military NATO base on the territory of the Slovak republic," Fico said. He added that smaller nations, like Slovakia, should stay clear of "large-scale geopolitical standoffs."

The government of Ukraine earlier approved a draft law to abolish the non-aligned status of the country, a significant step towards joining NATO. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said that Kiev's goal was to "obtain a special status between Ukraine and NATO."

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