Slovak leader gets into scandal over Russia’s war in Ukraine: details
16 December 18:11
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has found himself in the middle of a scandal, saying that peace in Ukraine is possible only at the cost of territorial concessions to Russia. The politician expressed this opinion to journalists of Teraz.sk, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
Peter Pellegrini said that he hopes that all the parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine will sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible.
“However, it is quite realistic to say, and no one in Europe who thinks normally today thinks that it will be possible to establish peace without territorial losses of Ukraine,” the Slovak president said.
Pellegrini also said that in 2025, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico may well arrive in Moscow to attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, despite the fact that the country has previously condemned Russia’s actions and declared its support for Ukraine.
“We will see under what circumstances this trip will take place. If he goes there, I see it primarily as a commemoration of the millions of victims that the then Soviet Union also sacrificed for the freedom of Slovakia, not as support for the current regime,” the Slovak leader explained.
What the President of Slovakia said in Ukraine
Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi has already responded to the Slovak leader’s words. On his page on the social network X, he wrote the following:
“The last time Slovak land was handed over to the aggressor in the name of peace, it did not go well and did not bring peace to either the Slovaks or other nations.”
What preceded it
Peter Pellegrini became president of Slovakia in April 2024. He is also the leader of the left-wing Voice party, which is part of a coalition with Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Course for Social Democracy.
Slovak media reported that Pellegrini opposed Ukraine’s accession to NATO. In early April 2024, during an election debate on the Markiza TV channel, the incumbent Slovak president debated with his rival Ivan Korcok. The politicians discussed the possible accession of our country to the Alliance after it fulfills certain conditions. Pellegrini rejected this possibility. Korcok said that this should be decided by the member states.
