The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considers the statements of the Slovak official about anti-Russian sanctions unacceptable.
There was a reaction of Kiev to criticism of sanctions against Russia by a high-ranking Slovak official / REUTERS
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted harshly to the non-support of the Minister of Economy of Slovakia, Richard Sulik, sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Oleg Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, told an UNIAN correspondent about this.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers unacceptable the statements of the Minister of Economy of Slovakia, which cast doubt on the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Nikolenko stressed.
“It’s a shame that an official of a state that is friendly to us, with which we have a high level of relations, demonstrates a distorted perception of reality in terms of Crimea’s ownership and understanding of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation,” the speaker said.
According to him, “talks about the return of business as usual (usual conduct of business and normal cooperation – Ed.) with the Russian Federation, which grossly violated international law by seizing Crimea by force and starting armed aggression in the Donbas, only promote impunity and encourage Russia to further aggression. “.
Read alsoUS prepares sanctions against militant leaders in Donbas – WSJNikolenko said that the comments of the Slovak official are dissonant with the official position of Slovakia and the consolidated position of the EU in the context of countering Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“We demand a public refutation by Mr. Minister of his statements, which do not contribute to the development of friendly Ukrainian-Slovak relations,” the speaker said.
According to the Slovak publication Pravda, Slovak Economics Minister Richard Sulik questioned the importance of economic sanctions against Russia imposed several years ago.
Sulik considers the decision to apply sanctions against the Russian Federation unsuccessful.
“Countries have to trade with each other. And some of our exporters have suffered. For this reason, sanctions only lead to damage, the Russians will not return Crimea anyway. We must look ahead and build relationships,” Sulik said.
In addition, he added, the tension on the border of Ukraine is also not conducive to building relations.
Recall that the Russian Federation annexed the Ukrainian Crimea in the spring of 2014, and later invaded part of the Donbass and supported the militants who created the so-called “DPR” and “LPR”. A number of Western countries punished Russia for its aggression against Ukraine – they imposed sanctions, and later they were extended and expanded.
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