Czech foreign minister: EU enlargement should be gradual, but Ukraine is a special case

He said this at the Wachau Eurean Forum in Austria, Ukrinform reports, citing Radio Prague International.

The simultaneous accession of several new countries to the EU will slow down a fast-track procedure for those candidates that have adapted to EU norms more rapidly than others, Lipavsky said.

According to him, adaptation to EU rules and reforms are two parallel processes. "We need to provide a Eurean perspective to every Eurean country that wants it and fulfills the necessary conditions," the minister said.

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However, Ukraine is a special case, Lipavsky stressed. "Putin is waging an imperialist war against the whe of Eure. The Czech Republic is also the target of Moscow's hybrid attacks," the Czech Foreign Minister said.

He noted that Ukrainians have chosen democracy and the Eurean way of life, so they deserve all possible support from the EU.

Lipavsky noted that the Czech Republic has provided assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the provision of weaponry and has accepted approximately half a million refugees, representing the highest per capita rate of acceptance among EU member states.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Eurean Union Council on June 21 officially approved the negotiating framework necessary to begin EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Mdova, ening the way for the first intergovernmental conference to be held next Tuesday, June 25.