Prezident SR Peter Pellegrini understands that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) wants to make In the conclusions of Thursday (6. 3.) of the European Summit It said that Ukraine would allow gas transit through its territory to Europe. According to him, he defends the national interests of the Slovak Republic. At the same time, he stressed that Slovakia has never been a country to block any decision. He declared it after Wednesday’s presidential summit of Slavkovsky format (S3) at the Slavkov Castle near Brno.
Head of State thinks the Prime Minister is trying to put pressure on that If the European Union is to continue to help Ukraine, what has some impacts, Ukraine could make a gesture of gratitude re -allowing gas transit. “I cannot blame him for this, this hard rhetoric, because he defends the national interests of the Slovak Republic,” Pellegrini stated.
Czech President Petr Pavel and Austrian Head of State Alexander Van der Bellen agreed that if there is no agreement on Thursday, it is necessary to think about how to look for a solution that countries will not paralyze. “If any state is blocked, it is necessary to talk about whether the next steps will be appropriate to choose the format of a coalition willing to focus on a specific role in which the group of states agree, and go this way to stay in a format that, as long as it is blocked, becomes ineffective, ” said Pavel.
The leaders also responded to Wednesday’s speech by US President Donald Trump in the US Congress. According to Paul and Van der Bellen, part of Ukraine was intended for an internal political audience. The Austrian president noted that the EU and the US relations are different from the past, and the EU cannot rely on “someone cares for us”. Pellegrini is of the opinion that despite the new attitude of the US administration the EU should not remain paralyzed. According to him, it should consider the future more intensively and more dynamically. At the same time, it considers it important to maintain constructive transatlantic relations. He perceives “cleansing relationships” as the most optimal possibility to organize an EU and US format.
Trump’s decision to suspend military assistance for Ukraine Pellegrini perceives as part of negotiations with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Želenský and effort to take place to an agreement on mineral wealth. The same opinion is shared by the Czech President. He stressed that the US did not stop help. According to him, the rate of possible future EU security guarantees Ukraine will depend on the further development of peace negotiations. However, he thinks that it must be based on what will be acceptable to all parties.
