Bratislava/Prague – Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) has expressed that the European Union (EU) is currently taken by surprise by American President Donald Trump's proactive stance regarding peace negotiations for Ukraine, in which the EU has yet to engage. Blanár made these comments following a meeting with his Czech counterpart, Jan Lipavský, as reported by TASR in Prague.
Blanár remarked, “The EU might be caught off guard by President Trump’s actions today, as he has actively sought resolution to the conflict and has clearly stated his desire to expedite its end. Logically, one could argue that the EU had ample opportunity to initiate peace discussions but failed to do so. The EU’s sensitivity in this matter appears misplaced.” He emphasized the importance of remaining attentive to all parties involved, noting, “As the situation evolves, the American response has been clear – Ukraine will also be included in the discussions.”
He affirmed Slovakia’s support for any peace initiatives, whether proposed by Trump or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “We are ready to facilitate preliminary peace talks at a lower level. We are still unclear on the specifics, but we want to contribute, provided there is interest from all parties,” he stated. Blanár reiterated that Slovakia would not send troops to Ukraine if that topic arises in the negotiations.
Blanár pointed out that Slovakia’s perspective differs from the Czech Republic’s; he believes that arms deliveries are not conducive to resolving the conflict at this time. However, both nations share the view that it is unacceptable for national borders to be altered through force.
Lipavský, the Czech Foreign Minister, attempted to clarify the Czech Republic’s position to Blanár, mentioning that Russia is engaged in various acts of sabotage and a significant information warfare campaign against Europe, necessitating a defensive stance. This forms the foundation of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy regarding Ukraine.
Regarding future developments, Lipavský stated, “It is still uncertain how the situation will evolve. However, we must ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to defend itself.” He emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine while expressing caution about discussions surrounding the potential deployment of soldiers, stating, “I remain extremely cautious about this and choose not to speculate publicly on the matter.” (February 18)
**“The EU might be caught off guard by President Trump’s actions. By actively entering into the resolution of the conflict and clearly stating that he wants to try to end it as soon as possible. Logically, we can say that the EU had plenty of space to start peace talks, but did not use it. Sensitivity on the part of the EU is not quite appropriate.”** – Juraj Blanár
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