The new Slovak government has taken a new course towards Ukraine. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár made it clear on Wednesday during his inaugural visit to Vienna: for him, further sanctions against Russia are not certain. Alexander Schallenberg responds.
“Our position on the twelfth sanctions package is open,” Blanár said at a joint press conference with Schallenberg (ÖVP). The domestic chief diplomat emphasized the importance of a unified line in the EU: “Unity and unity on this issue are our greatest attribute.”
Blanár defended the end of Slovak military aid to Ukraine. However, he made it clear that “Slovakia considers Russian aggression a violation of international law.” Bratislava is prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and mine clearance.
Slovakia: “Pressure for peace talks”
“We all want peace and democracy for Ukraine.” But now that the conflict is frozen, “pressure for peace talks” is needed. Blanár did not answer the journalist’s question whether Slovakia was demanding a unilateral ceasefire from Ukraine.
Schallenberg said Russia is the “greatest immediate security threat” to the European continent and that the country has one person in its power: Russian President Vladimir Putin “can end the war tomorrow.” Schallenberg also defended support for Ukraine. Because: “If Ukraine stops fighting, then it is actually over for Ukraine. Then Slovakia might suddenly have another neighbor.”
The standard of living in Slovakia has fallen
Blanár added that the sanctions against Russia “have not achieved much.” His government is demanding an investigation into the economic impact and sanctions against nuclear fuel from Russia are the common thread for them. The war has caused Slovakia to slide into the “penultimate place” in the EU when it comes to living standards. Schallenberg responded that the sanctions were not pleasant, but “we will certainly not end up in a recession.”
Russia, on the other hand, was in recession in 2022 and had the worst economic figures of all emerging countries.
Schallenberg does not see the different positions on Russia as a stress test for the EU and other forms of cooperation such as Slavkov-3 (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia) or Central-5 (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia).
Schallenberg praises the collaboration
With Slovakia in particular, the “cooperation is so close, so intertwined” that “it actually ensures that everyone, regardless of how the government is composed in Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, works together.” However, discussions about sanctions must take place behind closed doors in Brussels. Public discussions would be observed. “And these are not friendly observers,” says Schallenberg.
Schallenberg and Blanár also talked about migration. Blanár said his country was also under great migratory pressure. He emphasized that eleven Schengen countries currently control their borders and agreed with Schallenberg that “Schengen is not working.”
The Schengen border controls at a glance:
He did not criticize the Austrian controls introduced at the border crossings with Slovakia in early October, because they “do not hinder traffic”. Schallenberg explained that the “temporary border controls” were regrettable. However, there are “no problems with commuting”. According to Schallenberg, about 45,000 Slovaks live in Austria and about the same number travel across the border every day.
Austria is the second largest investor in Slovakia. 2,000 Austrian companies are active in the neighboring country.
New head of government attacks media
Blanár was also asked about the media policy of his Prime Minister Robert Fico. Fico had announced that he would boycott several media outlets that criticized him. Blanár said in Vienna that he understood that from an Austrian perspective it looked like an exclusion of critical media. “But some media do not provide objective information.” All media in Slovakia have access to all public information. Fico just doesn’t give direct interviews.
Blanár will also meet with European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) on Wednesday. According to her office, this will be an exchange on migration, the expansion of the EU and the fight against anti-Semitism. The new Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok is expected in Vienna on Thursday. He meets Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) for a working discussion on border controls and the preparation of a Visegrad 4 meeting in Szeged on the Hungarian border with Serbia.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
