Foreign Ministry Views UN Resolution on Ukraine War Anniversary as Compromise

Bratislava, February 25 (TASR) - The Slovak Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Slovakia to the United Nations (UN) voted in favour of a resolution on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine in New York, following instructions from Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), with the Foreign Affairs Ministry viewing the text as a possible compromise to emphasise adherence to international law and respect for borders and territorial integrity, TASR has learnt from the Ministry's communications department. The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry noted that 93 European and other countries agreed on the resolution text, which, according to the Slovak ministry, is a possible compromise proposal to emphasise the adherence to international law, the respect for borders, and territorial integrity—principles that are crucial for Slovakia—on the third anniversary of the armed conflict in Ukraine. "Our stance is absolutely principled, just as it is in the case of Slovakia's non-recognition of Kosovo, as we consider it a violation of international law and a breach of Serbia's territorial integrity," stated the foreign minister. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution presented by Kiev and European states on Monday (February 24), with the majority of EU countries, including Slovakia, voting in favour of the document confirming Ukraine's "sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity." Hungary, as well as Israel and the United States, voted against it. In response, the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) called on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to investigate the circumstances of the vote at the UN. The SNS is "principally" opposed to this vote and stated that if the government declares something, it's inconceivable for Slovak representatives in international institutions to vote against government policy. lin/mcs