MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to finish a battle he mentioned Russia was decided to carry to a conclusion.
Putin, who this week hosted Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico within the Kremlin, mentioned that Fico, an outspoken opponent of European Union navy help for Ukraine, had supplied his nation as a number to talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin mentioned the Slovakian authorities “…would be happy to provide their own country as a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position.”
Slovakia is seen as one in all a rising camp of central and japanese European EU member states which can be sceptical of help for Ukraine, and supportive of negotiations with Russia.
Slovak Overseas Minister Juraj Blanar mentioned Slovakia has lengthy sought a peaceable resolution to the battle and that Putin’s feedback have been a “positive signal” for an finish to the struggle.
“Slovak diplomacy is prepared to actively contribute to the peace process in this way and we have also communicated this option to the Ukrainian partners,” at a joint cupboard assembly in October, Blanar mentioned in a press release launched late on Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly criticised Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, for the pleasant tone Fico has struck in the direction of Russia since his return to energy after an election in 2023.
Putin has repeatedly mentioned that Russia is open to talks to finish the battle with Kyiv, however that it could however obtain its targets in Ukraine.
Putin mentioned on Thursday that Russia might use the brand new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile often called Oreshnik once more however was in no hurry to take action.
“We do not exclude the possibility of using it both today and tomorrow, if necessary,” Putin mentioned.
If vital, Putin mentioned, Russia might use extra highly effective intermediate-range weapons.
