(ANSA) - ZAGREB, 14 LUG - On July 14, Croatia's President Zoran Milanović stated, "It is an arrogant insult to countries like Montenegro and North Macedonia to claim that Ukraine is the country closest to joining the EU." This remark followed a meeting in Zagreb with his Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev, who was on an official visit to Croatia. Milanović expressed his concerns about certain European institutions, suggesting that they are overly obsessed with Ukraine as a means of maintaining their power. He emphasized, "Ukraine is a country in conflict, with unclear borders and unable to be financially self-sufficient. Therefore, to claim that Ukraine is closer to EU accession than Montenegro or North Macedonia is not just an insult to those countries; it is unfair and inhumane." He added that Europe bears some responsibility for "dragging Ukraine toward ruin." Radev supported Milanović's sentiments, albeit in milder terms. He cautioned that prioritizing Ukraine for EU membership based on geopolitical circumstances could send a negative message to the Western Balkan countries, especially if Ukraine has not fulfilled the necessary criteria or implemented required reforms for EU accession. Regarding North Macedonia, Radev clarified that it is not Bulgaria obstructing its path to the EU but rather Skopje's refusal to meet the Copenhagen criteria for membership, particularly those related to discrimination and human rights. He noted that Bulgaria has been "waiting in good faith" for three years for North Macedonia to fulfill just one condition: the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia's constitution. Milanović stated that he views the dispute between Sofia and Skopje as an internal matter, although he admitted to having previously taken a strong position in favor of Skopje. Last May, during a visit to North Macedonia, he urged its leaders "not to accept blackmail or extortion when it comes to EU accession." (ANSA).