Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, has sparked diplomatic backlash after publicly calling on Western nations to consider “forgiving” Russia for its war against Ukraine—a proposal made during a nationally broadcast interview on the public television programme O 5 minút 12. In remarks that diverge sharply from the European Union’s prevailing stance on accountability for Russian war crimes, Blanár advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and suggested that both Russia and the West may need to “forgive each other” in order to re-establish cooperation. His comments prompted a swift rebuke from Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who warned that such rhetoric enables impunity and emboldens further aggression, stating that “Russia will slap you on the other cheek.” The incident underscores Slovakia’s increasingly ambiguous posture towards Moscow under the current administration, which has deprioritised military support for Ukraine while emphasising peace negotiations. Blanár’s remarks come amid growing regional concern over disinformation and foreign influence operations, with Slovakia having previously been identified by EU and NATO partners as a vulnerable node in Kremlin-backed propaganda networks aimed at weakening Western support for Kyiv.
In a televised interview aired on 29 June 2025 by the Slovak public broadcaster STVR, Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, proposed a controversial diplomatic approach to resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking on the country’s flagship political talk show O 5 minút 12, Minister Blanár argued that the conflict can only be brought to an end through negotiations and collaboration with the Russian Federation, despite its continued military aggression against Ukraine.
Blanár asserted that communication channels must be re-established with Russia and suggested that both Western countries and Russia may ultimately need to “forgive each other” for actions taken since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the minister, “perhaps we need to forgive everything that has happened,” indicating that reconciliation could play a role in diplomatic resolution.
The Slovak minister framed his comments within a broader call for peace, expressing concern about the potential for a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. He warned that such an escalation could result in a third world war. While stating that Slovakia opposes preparing for war, he acknowledged the necessity of reinforcing national defence capacities. He explained that deterrence would be ineffective without adequate military resources, saying that Slovakia could not “deter an adversary with empty warehouses.”
The reaction from Kyiv was immediate and sharply critical. Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, publicly condemned the suggestion that Russia might be forgiven without facing justice. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sybiha stated that “the sense of impunity is the root cause of Russia’s atrocities.” He further argued that forgiving a perpetrator rather than holding them accountable would not halt their aggression but instead embolden further violations. Addressing countries that have not experienced direct wartime loss, he stated, “Russia will slap you on the other cheek,” warning that appeasement invites repeat offences.
Minister Blanár’s remarks form part of an ongoing foreign policy stance by the Slovak government, which has consistently advocated for diplomatic engagement over military solutions in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, the language used—particularly the suggestion of mutual forgiveness—has drawn heightened scrutiny and provoked backlash from Ukraine and other stakeholders concerned about the implications of granting impunity to a state engaged in an internationally condemned invasion.
Sources:
.Týždeň | Denník N | TA3
