Focus: Germany urges Slovakia to show more solidarity on Russia sanctions

BRATISLAVA, September 29 /ATSH-DPA/ – Germany has asked Slovakia to show more support for European Union measures against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during his visit to Bratislava, said after meeting his Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanár that both countries expressed “full support for Ukraine”.

According to Wadephul, that support also includes cutting off energy supplies from Russia. He stressed that EU member states must “stand together” against Moscow.

“More pressure must be exerted” on Russia, the German minister said, arguing that Moscow shows no readiness for peace while Ukraine has repeatedly declared it is ready to end the war.

Wadephul also warned that the EU cannot afford a situation where individual member states block joint measures, including sanctions.

For his part, Blanár condemned Russia’s war on Ukraine as a grave violation of international law, but repeated Bratislava’s position that the conflict cannot be resolved by military means.

He stressed the need for negotiations with Russia. “Russia will not disappear from the map,” the Slovak minister declared.

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government has often criticised EU sanctions on Moscow and kept a stance closer to Russia than many of Slovakia’s EU and NATO partners.