Slovakia offers to "forgive Russia" and restore ties. Ukraine does not agree

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said that Russia may need to be "forgiven for everything" and return to respecting international law and restoring ties. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga reacted to this statement.

According to Dennik, the Slovak minister believes that Moscow's war against Kyiv has no military solution, only a diplomatic one. Also, a war between Russia and NATO should not be allowed, as it would be "World War III.".

"Let's get back to respecting international law and also try to establish communication with Russia. And maybe even forgive everything that happened," Blanar said on the air of the TV channel STVR.

Sibiga said it is naive to hope that "a criminal will stop" if he is forgiven rather than punished.

"Yurai, Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes. It is naïve to hope that a criminal will stop if his crime is forgiven rather than punished. Russia will hit you on the other cheek. And those who have not lost anyone in this war have no right to make such statements," the minister said .

• on June 18, it was reported that the former head of Slovakia's Defense Ministry is to be detained for helping Ukraine. The prosecutor's office detained eight people on suspicion of embezzlement.
• On June 23, Hungary and Slovakia blocked the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Hungarian Prime Minister says the country is no longer ready to help Ukraine with money or weapons.