Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is scheduled to leave for a European Union (EU) summit in Brussels on Wednesday (October 16), the Government Office's press department told TASR on Tuesday, adding that among other matters, he'll attend the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting and the European Council meeting.
"The main topics of discussion with the Middle East countries will be deepening cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, investment, energy and climate. This will be the first meeting of the countries in this format," stated the Government Office.
The office added that during the two-day European Council on Thursday (October 17) and Friday (October 18), EU leaders will discuss developments in the Middle East, competitiveness, migration and foreign affairs. "They will also debate assistance to Ukraine ahead of the coming winter and strengthening Ukraine's energy sector and its critical infrastructure," noted the Government Office.
Before leaving for Brussels the Premier attended a session of the parliamentary European affairs committee and opined that the end of the war in Ukraine is coming soon.
"The probability of ending the war in Ukraine in a short time is very high," said the prime minister, remarking that he expects the European Council meeting to indicate when that could be the case, "as the topic of inviting Ukraine to NATO is suddenly being brought up". In his opinion, this invitation wouldn't be "free of charge".
The premier wished Ukraine a just peace, but asked whether it is possible to achieve as things stand. He reiterated that his government supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and that he will support any peace plan put forward to resolve the conflict. Furthermore, he claimed that peace negotiations will also be on the agenda of his upcoming visit to China.
At the same time, Fico said that he's always sought balanced relations with Russia. It should be accepted, he opined, that the Russians won't leave Crimea and other territories such as Donetsk and Luhansk. In his view, the Russians are gaining more and more territories, and the conflict has no military solution.
The premier said Slovakia continues to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, adding that the most needed support is the supply of electricity. He expects cooperation from Ukraine in the import of oil and gas to Slovakia. "I refuse to import oil from somewhere across the Adriatic," he noted, explaining that fees would grow if this was the case. "It is our duty to ensure that transit via Slovakia continues, that transit via Ukraine continues, be it oil or gas," he remarked.
Source: TASR
