PS and SaS Against Bratislava Hosting Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) and SaS criticise the information, revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to whom Slovakia is prepared to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and concurred that the only solution to end the war is for Russian troops to leave Ukraine. SaS is against the proposal to hold the peace summit in Bratislava. Party chair Branislav Groehling declared that SaS stands on the side of freedom, democracy and international law, not on the side of the regime that is pursuing the destruction of these values. "Peace won't be forged behind a negotiating table, where the aggressor comes to dictate terms while he continues to massacre civilians. Slovakia must never become a "movie set" for such a tragedy," he said. The SaS head underlined that under no metric can Slovakia be perceived as a neutral country, as it is member to the EU and NATO. "Hosting the talks could be construed as a step towards legitimisation of a regime that bears full responsibility for the aggression, crimes against humanity and the destruction of the international order," claimed Groehling. Chair of PS Michal Simecka finds it absurd that, once again, it's someone other than the Slovak Government who announces steps of Slovakia's foreign policy. In his view, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) doesn't "give a damn" about the democratic legitimacy of his policies and the communication with the public. "Let's recall that in his 14 years in power, Robert Fico has shown that he's incapable of completing a single highway to Kosice, hasn't built any large hospital and hasn't done anything to help the economic situation and living standards of the people. And all of a sudden, he dares to achieve nothing less than world peace. In reality, however, he's only diverting attention away from his failures," said Simecka. mf/mcs