Russia: Gaspar and Danko Meet Lavrov, Discuss War in Ukraine and Energy

Bratislava/Moscow, January 14 (TASR-correspondent) - Conflict in Ukraine and energy supplies to Europe were the fulcrum of Tuesday's talks between Slovak House Vice-chairs Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) and Andrej Danko (SNS) and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, TASR learnt from its special correspondent. According to Gaspar, after the West violated several agreements, Russia no longer sees it as a partner trustworthy enough to conclude a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Gaspar claimed that Lavrov conveyed to him Russia's view, as to why Moscow chose to apply a military solution to the situation in Ukraine. Among the reasons listed by the Russian ministers were violations of rights of Russian minority in eastern Ukraine, including the ban on the official use of Russian, said Gaspar. Russians, however, are willing to hold talks on the end of conflict in Ukraine. "It's just that there must be someone willing to listen why they chose to deal with the situation the way they decided to," stated Gaspar. He added that Russia discovered some of the past agreements have no longer been honoured, such as Minsk Treaty on the conflict in Donbass, Istanbul talks shortly after the Russian invasion began in 2022 as well as agreements from the sunset days of the Soviet Union era. "They don't have a trustworthy partner with whom they can conclude such a peace deal," added Gaspar. Gaspar warned that unless the causes of conflict in Ukraine, going back to 2014, are named clearly, its resolution will not be possible. Danko added that at the meeting Lavrov talked about the issue of energy supplies to Europe and accused the United States of an attempt to damage TurkStream pipeline, connecting the European part of Turkey and Russia via the Black Sea. According to Lavrov, the United States abetted Ukraine in Monday's (January 13) drone attack on the infrastructure of the pipeline. mf/mcs