EU Foreign Ministers agreed at Tuesday’s meeting in Brussels to support peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russiasaid the head of Slovak diplomacy Juraj Blanár after his end. According to him, another of these direct interviews could take place in the Vatican or Switzerland. TASR informed the Communication Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs (MZvez) SR.
“Despite the fact that they did not participate in peace negotiations (in Istanbul, note TASR) the top representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, It is important what Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryj Sybiha has confirmed to continue these negotiations”Said Blanár.
On Tuesday, the EU Member States formally confirmed the approval of the 17th penalty package against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Its most important part is measures against the so -called Russian shadow fleet. Blanár pointed out that Slovakia will take such decisions only if sanctions do not harm Slovakia, its economy or the standard of living of its inhabitants.
However, the Government of the Slovak Republic, according to the MZVEZ statement, insists that sanctions do not produce the necessary result. According to Blanár, the number 17 itself is evidenced. “It proves that sanctions have not helped to stop fighting. Therefore, sanctions do not solve the problem, but on the contrary, the consistent negotiations started by the US administration Donald Trump. She was the only one to have the courage and initiated peace negotiations, ”stressed the Minister.
After the meeting of the EU Council for Foreign Affairs, Blanár also reiterated the attitude of the Government of the Slovak Republic to the proposal of the European Commission under the designation of the repower EU, which aims to end the dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Bratislava has a reservation from all energy sources from Russia, and according to Blanár it would suffer the Slovak Republic, which is an inland country. Slovak diplomacy will therefore actively perform in negotiations on this proposal of the European Commission. Blanár believes that dependence on Russia would replace dependence on another country as a result of the EU step.
“European competitiveness will decline. Great powers, both the United States of America and China, will always defend their interests. After finally the ceasefire and peace in Ukraine could be established, it is necessary to normalize relationships with the Russian Federation, not to be completely cut off, which would have negative impacts on the economy of the whole European Union, including Slovakia,“He said.
At the same time, the European Commissioner Marta Kosová presented at the meeting of the Council at the Council meeting the degree of readiness of Ukraine in the EU access process. In this context, Blanár declared the support of the Slovak Republic with a condition of compliance with the rules valid for all candidate states, which must meet the same conditions.
“We support the Euro -integration efforts of Ukraine because we think that through the access process our eastern neighbor can solve the problems he faces within his country, and this is a struggle with corruption, legal states or judiciary, which was also presented in detail by Commissioner Kosová,” added the head of Slovak diplomacy.
