High-level negotiations on Ukraine should take place in a country that observes neutrality on the conflict; Bratislava is ready to host meetings at lower levels,Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
⠀
A delegation of the Slovak government led by Fico is visiting Ankara on Monday.
⠀
“Slovakia has no ambitions to organize a summit (on Ukraine) at the highest level, we are interested in organizing events of a peaceful nature at lower levels, since the summit at the highest level should take place in a country that is absolutely neutral on this issue,” Fico said during a joint press statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, broadcast on Slovak television.
⠀
He noted that he is in favor of an early stop to hostilities in Ukraine and an end to the deaths of people on both sides.
⠀
“Please, let’s take off the rose-colored glasses and be realistic about the content of the peace that can be achieved. It is simply impossible in today’s situation to expect Russia to leave the territory it controls. This is impossible. Just as the idea that Ukraine will be a member is impossible NATO, this is not what the Slovak government says, today it is already a reality,” Fico added.
⠀
In his opinion, large countries should make efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. “The only thing we can do is demand, push and ask the big players, and Turkey is a big player, to make every effort to start peace negotiations (in Ukraine),” Fico concluded.
