Slovakia’s Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said Ukraine will need to give up some land. This is because Russia is an aggressor and has broken many rules, according to Kaliniak.
Ukraine shares its biggest border with Russia. Kaliniak said that this is something that will always be true. However, he emphasized that Ukraine’s future decisions about foreign policy are more important than its borders.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called proposals for giving up land “madness.” The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also opposes giving up any territory. They think that doing so would show weakness and make Russia even more aggressive.
Slovakia was initially very supportive of Ukraine when the war started. However, after a pro-Russian politician became Prime Minister in October 2023, Slovakia’s stance changed. This new leader said that no military aid would be sent to Ukraine during his time in office.
Kaliniak, who has family ties to Ukraine, wants there to be clear rules for how countries should behave in conflicts. He acknowledges that Russia is the aggressor and that it has broken international law.
Some Slovak politicians have suggested giving up land to achieve peace. However, others are opposed to this idea, including Slovakia’s current Prime Minister, Robert Fico. Fico recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and offered to host a meeting where Ukraine could give up some of its territory in exchange for peace.