Slovak Foreign Minister Blanar: Sanctions are not forcing Russia to stop the war

Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar has stated that sanctions against Russia have not produced results at a level that would force Moscow to stop the war in Ukraine.

Blanar noted that they have argued since the beginning of the war that it cannot be solved through military means, stating that economic pressure has not created the expected effect. The Slovak minister expressed that if the shipment of weapons, such as medium and long-range missiles, to Ukraine continues, it will not contribute to the search for a solution, but rather lead to further escalation and problems in Europe.

Emphasizing diplomacy in his statement, Blanar assessed, "We have been saying from the beginning that there is no military solution to this war. It is clear that economic pressure is not effective enough to force Russia to stop the war."

The Slovak Foreign Minister also argued that European security cannot be ensured in an equation that does not include Russia. "We must consider reality and seek a diplomatic solution. Diplomacy is the only way to end this conflict," Blanar said.

Blanar stated that the European Union should also be at the table in the process of resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Stating that the EU is the party providing the most support to Ukraine with the money of member countries' taxpayers, yet it is not present at the negotiating table, Blanar called for the reopening of communication channels with Russia.