- Category
- Latest news
Ukraine Slams Slovak FM’s Call to ‘Forgive’ Russia to End War
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has criticized remarks by his Slovak counterpart, Juraj Blanár, who suggested that Western countries may need to forgive Russia for its actions in Ukraine in order to reach a diplomatic settlement.
Speaking during an interview with Slovak broadcaster STVR, Blanár said that the war in Ukraine “cannot be resolved militarily” and called for renewed dialogue with Russia. He added that “the West must find a way to cooperate with Russia” and even proposed the possibility of “forgiving everything that has happened.”
According to Slovak media outlets Aktuality and Dennik, Blanár argued that returning to respect for international law and diplomacy was essential to ending the war. “We do not want a war between Russia and NATO—that would mean a third world war,” he said. “Conflicts should be prevented through diplomacy and adherence to international law.”
While expressing opposition to the war, Blanár also advocated for strengthening Slovakia’s own defense capabilities, stating that “we cannot stand by and confront an adversary with empty warehouses.”
-278ccb44f31eada82b3fb30301b152e6.jpg)
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a public statement on social media, warning against what he described as a misguided approach to peace.
“Russia’s sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes,” Sybiha wrote on X. “It’s naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished. Russia will hit your other cheek as well. And those who have lost no one in this war have no right to make such statements.”
Earlier, on March 6, Slovak MEP and Smer-SD Vice President Erik Kaliňák said he would prefer “Russians in Kyiv” over current Ukrainian leadership, calling them a more “reliable neighbor.” His remarks, reported by Aktuality, sparked backlash from opposition parties, who labeled them a betrayal of Slovakia’s European commitments.
