Slovakia has expressed its readiness to assist Ukraine in resolving the conflict by offering its territory as a venue for negotiations.
This was announced by Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Juraj Blanár.
Earlier, during a meeting with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Fico mentioned the possibility of using Slovakia as a platform for peace negotiations regarding the situation in Ukraine.
This proposition has sparked controversy, with both the EU and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticizing Fico for his seemingly amicable approach toward Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to peace negotiations, stating, “We are not against it if this happens.” He further remarked, “Why not?” However, he emphasized that ending the conflict would need to align with his strategic objectives. At the same time, he issued a stark warning, suggesting that Russia’s advanced medium-range ballistic missile with hypersonic capabilities could be deployed again if necessary.
From Putin’s perspective, Slovakia, with its capital Bratislava, stands out as an ideal venue for peace talks. As a member of both NATO and the EU, Slovakia’s position is unique. For quite some time, the country has been pushing for negotiations with Russia, but its stance has drawn sharp criticism from Brussels.
Recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited the Kremlin to discuss future gas supplies. Slovakia faces the threat of losing access to Russian gas early next year, as supplies currently flow through Ukraine. However, Kyiv has announced plans to shut down the pipeline soon, further complicating matters.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár also stated that Slovakia offered this possibility to Ukraine during a joint meeting of the governments of the two countries, which took place in early October 2024 in Uzhhorod. In early December, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini once again confirmed Bratislava’s readiness to act as a mediator in peace negotiations on Ukraine.
