Fico: If War in Ukraine Ends During My Gov't, I'll Restore Ties with Russia

Bratislava, October 3 (TASR) - If the war in Ukraine ends during the mandate of my government, I will do my utmost to restore standard and economic ties with Russia, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared on Thursday with respect to the upcoming session of Slovak and Ukrainian governments. Fico added that the Slovak government will also care very much about friendly ties with Ukraine. At the Monday's (October 7) joint governments session, Fico plans to discuss Ukraine's role as a transit country for essential commodities. "If the war ends during the mandate of this government, I will do my utmost to restore standard and economic ties with the Russian Federation, I'll do everything it takes. The European Union needs the Russian Federation and the Russian Federation needs, of course, the European Union," said Fico. Fico claimed that every war must end at a negotiating table. "And we will care very much for normal, friendly ties with Ukraine, to which we wish a quick end to this misfortune because it's a misfortune for everyone," he said and added that it's becoming clear that there is no military solution to the conflict. "It is becoming evident also in statements of many politicians, who are already talking about compromises; about how allegedly Ukraine must prepare for some compromise that will hurt both sides." Fico is looking forward to the government session in Ukraine. "We'll talk not only about the progress in the roadmap we have in humanitarian and other fields, but I'm particularly looking forward to the fact that we'll be able to discuss openly how to guarantee that Ukraine remains an important transit country for essential commodities that Western Europe needs," he said. Fico appreciates the "good chemistry" between himself and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, even though their views on several issues differ. "But I know I can openly discuss these issues with him. Discuss whether there are some models of how to secure transit routes across Ukraine to Slovakia because this isn't only about us getting what we need for our activities. After all, we have already an established environment, in which Slovakia is first and foremost a transit country," claimed Fico. He added that Slovakia is fighting against an "enormous pressure from the European Commission not to have anything supplied from the east to the west". mf/mcs