Slovak minister: All of EU should share burden of sanctions

Slovak minister: All of EU should share burden of sanctions

Lajcak pointed out that Slovakia, as a friend of both Ukraine and Russia, accepted EU sanctions against Russia "because it insists that international law and territorial integrity are respected," the Slovak media reported.

"For us, that conflict is very sensitive. It is clear that a solution to the conflict is impossible without Russia. It is important that the sanctions are seen as a tool in the search for a peaceful solution, rather than a goal. Slovakia supports a peaceful solution to the conflict," he said.

Lajcak also criticized some EU countries "that use big words, and make business contracts worth millions with Russia."

"We want the EU to show solidarity and fairness in its foreign policy, in other words, that everyone is taking the consequences of the sanctions. We should bear the consequences of the sanctions together, and not make us into a stick someone else will use to hit Putin on the head, while we are the only ones paying for it," said Lajcak.

The minister noted that Slovakia, unlike some other EU member states, was especially vulnerable to the sanctions war because it is energy-dependent on Russia.

"Ireland looks at the sanctions in one way, while Slovakia, Hungary and Austria look at it in another," Lajcak remarked.