Bratislava – President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini perceives that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has correctly set the conditions for potential support of the 18th package of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia. He anticipates that the situation will be resolved. According to him, the European Commission will be forced to pay a little more attention to Slovakia, which will ultimately support the sanctions package. This follows from his statements in the Sunday show TA3 V politike, TASR reports.
“The Prime Minister has correctly set the conditions that he has no problem supporting the eighteenth package of sanctions, provided we have some guarantees regarding our energy security or gas prices. (…) Today, I perceive it more as the Prime Minister using the situation during negotiations on the 18th package to secure something for Slovakia,” he stated, adding that he would not criticize Fico in this situation. He also pointed out that Slovakia has not blocked the adoption of any sanctions package so far.
Regarding the results of the NATO summit in The Hague, the president reminded that countries are to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, thus extending the deadline from the original five to ten years. He argued that it was necessary to consider the capacity of the arms industry worldwide. He also expressed a wish for world leaders to focus on achieving peace in Ukraine and other parts of the world as soon as possible. “So that we do not have to enforce peace through increased military activity,” he commented.
The Prime Minister’s statements on neutrality, according to him, resonated only at the time he made them. Pellegrini claims that no one confronted him with them at the summit.
“Slovakia sat at the table as a full member of NATO,” he declared. He admitted that such debates could cause investors to look at Slovakia with “raised eyebrows.” He believes that such topics need to be handled carefully.
“Today, it is not a topic. Slovakia is a full member of the EU and NATO, and I firmly believe that nothing will change in that regard for a long time,” he added.
He also commented on the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He confirmed that he plans to visit. However, he wants it to have substance, not just form. He would like it to send some positive signal to both sides, or for an agreement to be reached on some issue. He also believes that his role as head of state is to maintain correct relations with neighbors. He described the relationship between Fico and Zelensky as tense. According to him, this is due to Ukraine’s decision not to continue gas transit. (June 29)
“The Prime Minister has correctly set the conditions that he has no problem supporting the eighteenth package of sanctions, provided we have some guarantees regarding our energy security or gas prices.” Peter Pellegrini
