Slovakia breaking away from anti-Russian front…”End arms aid to Ukraine, negotiate with Russia”

Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova (right) is seen in a commemorative photo session after giving a certificate of appointment to new Foreign Minister Juraz Blanar on the 25th of last month at the presidential palace in Bratislava. /EPA, Yonhap

Cracks are appearing in Europe’s united front against Russia, following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin – the first such meeting by an European Union (EU) member state leader since the invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Russian daily RBC on the 6th (local time), Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraz Blanar, after a meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, called for Ukraine to start peace talks with Russia at a press conference.

At the meeting, Minister Blanar stated, “I don’t think there’s a military solution to the current situation in Ukraine,” and “Immediate cessation of combat and execution of peace plan discussions with Russia should be carried out, as I don’t see any form of result coming from continuing the conflict in Ukraine.”

Notably, Minister Blanar drew attention by announcing that he would stop the support of weapons to Ukraine, which had been ongoing since the Russian invasion. He stated, “We will continue humanitarian support for Ukraine in the future, but military support such as weapon supply will be terminated,” and added, “We will actively participate in peace missions such as removing mines installed in Ukrainian territory.”

However, in response to a question whether this policy means a complete halt to weapon support for Ukraine, he clarified that it only means a cessation of government-level support, and it would not prevent Ukraine from purchasing weapons from Slovakian defense companies.

In relation to this, Robert Fico, the new Prime Minister with pro-Russian tendencies who started his term on the 25th of last month, stated upon taking office that “If Russia does not harm Slovakia, we will not unconditionally support Western economic sanctions against Russia and military support for Ukraine, and we will also review the conditions of the defense agreement with the United States.”

Meanwhile, in Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine, there is analysis that the possibility of the pro-Russian party, the Party of Socialists, coming to power in the 2024 presidential election and the 2025 parliamentary election has increased, as the pro-EU party, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), suffered a defeat in the recent local elections.

Igor Dodon, the former president of Moldova with pro-Russian tendencies, said on the day, “Looking at the results of this local election, it appears that 75% of the people are against the Party of Action and Solidarity,” and “Even though they are trying to put on a good face about the recent serious economic situation, I think 2024 will be a very difficult time for them.”