Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament: It is good if the EU does not sit at the first peace talks in Ukraine

Bratislava – It is good if the representatives of the European Union are not present at the initial talks about establishing peace in Ukraine. It might actually prevent a peaceful solution. This was stated by the Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Tibor Gašpar (Smer-SD) in the discussion program STVR Saturday Dialogues. His opponent in the discussion, Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and Vice-Chair of the PS movement Irena Bihariová, on the other hand, thinks that Europe and Ukraine must be present at the announced talks, reports TASR.

 Gašpar bases his opinion on the statements of some EU representatives and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, declaring that it is necessary to ensure that Ukraine has a strong negotiating position in the peace talks. He also pointed out the words of President Volodymyr Zelensky, that Europe must have its own army.

“These words indicate that the interest is more to escalate tension, arm and arm, not to seek a solution for peace,” said Gašpar. He also pointed out the situation at the beginning of the war conflict, when, according to him, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson persuaded Zelensky against the possibility of making peace.

Bihariová believes that Europe must have representation in the peace talks, world leaders will, in her opinion, only pursue the interests of their own powers.

“If American President Donald Trump arranges peace alone in communication with Vladimir Putin without Ukraine, we can be sure that it will be neither in favor of Europe nor of Ukraine, and certainly not in favor of the Slovak Republic,” emphasized Bihariová. She criticized the overall stance of the new American administration towards Europe, including the statements made by American Vice President J. D. Vance, which were made on Friday (14. 2.) at the Munich Security Conference. There, Vance accused Europe of restricting freedom of speech. “Those who used lies in the campaign, manipulated public opinion, used misinformation, and managed to question the election results, are the last ones who should talk about what freedom of speech should look like,” declared the opposition MP.

Gašpar, on the other hand, believes that the reactions of some EU representatives confirm “the inability of progressivism in Europe to hold up a mirror to itself.” According to him, the American administration talks about what the EU has refused with its current leadership. He criticizes the Union for not having been able to engage in negotiations with Russia on peace or setting new geopolitical security guarantees for the future. Bihariová believes that it is impossible to talk about security guarantees with someone who does not inspire confidence in keeping these agreements. (February 15)