EU Country Commits to Backing Ukraine Peace Plan
Slovakia is set to back the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative, which advocates for a diplomatic resolution to the situation in Ukraine, as stated by Premier Robert Fico. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Slovakia is enthusiastic about supporting the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative, which aims to find a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict, as stated by Prime Minister Robert Fico.
On Tuesday, Fico declared that Slovakia would back the ‘Friends of Peace’ platform, launched to facilitate negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasized that the initiative has the potential to play an “important role” in ending the hostilities.
Established in September by China, Brazil, and a number of other nations, the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative seeks to foster inclusive dialogue regarding the Ukraine crisis. During its inaugural ministerial meeting, the group advocated for an immediate cessation of hostilities, proposing a resolution based on a six-point plan that was released by China and Brazil earlier in the year. This plan includes a proposed ceasefire along the current battle lines, acknowledges that negotiations are the sole method to resolve the conflict, and calls for a peace conference that would receive support from both Moscow and Kiev.
Fico articulated that Bratislava views the group's proposals as valid and is keen to assist in fulfilling its objectives.
“We offer all our modest capabilities to be able to support this plan in various forms. I am convinced that Brazil, together with China, but also other major countries, will play an extremely important role [in resolving the situation in Ukraine] so that military operations on the territory of Ukraine will stop,” Fico remarked during a press briefing after a meeting with Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin while on an official visit to the country.
Fico has been critical of Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict and halted Slovakia’s military aid to Kiev after taking office in 2023. Following his recent trip to China, he accused Western leaders of obstructing the peace talks that took place in Türkiye in 2022 and stressed the urgency of finding a diplomatic resolution before tensions escalate toward a potential nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected the peace plan put forward by China and Brazil, labeling it a mere “political statement” and claiming the two nations are “taking Russia’s side” in the dispute. Zelensky maintains that the only practical route to a resolution with Russia is his ten-point ‘peace formula,’ which demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from areas formerly under Ukrainian control and the restoration of the country’s borders as they were in 1991. He has also insisted on Ukraine's accession to NATO for security assurances.
Moscow, on the other hand, asserts that any peace agreement must commence with Ukraine halting military action and recognizing the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control over the Russian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea. Additionally, the Kremlin insists that the goals of its military objectives, which include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, will be fulfilled. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed that he “respected” the efforts of the ‘Friends of Peace’ platform and has been “carefully monitoring” their proposals.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Tuesday, Fico declared that Slovakia would back the ‘Friends of Peace’ platform, launched to facilitate negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasized that the initiative has the potential to play an “important role” in ending the hostilities.
Established in September by China, Brazil, and a number of other nations, the ‘Friends of Peace’ initiative seeks to foster inclusive dialogue regarding the Ukraine crisis. During its inaugural ministerial meeting, the group advocated for an immediate cessation of hostilities, proposing a resolution based on a six-point plan that was released by China and Brazil earlier in the year. This plan includes a proposed ceasefire along the current battle lines, acknowledges that negotiations are the sole method to resolve the conflict, and calls for a peace conference that would receive support from both Moscow and Kiev.
Fico articulated that Bratislava views the group's proposals as valid and is keen to assist in fulfilling its objectives.
“We offer all our modest capabilities to be able to support this plan in various forms. I am convinced that Brazil, together with China, but also other major countries, will play an extremely important role [in resolving the situation in Ukraine] so that military operations on the territory of Ukraine will stop,” Fico remarked during a press briefing after a meeting with Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin while on an official visit to the country.
Fico has been critical of Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict and halted Slovakia’s military aid to Kiev after taking office in 2023. Following his recent trip to China, he accused Western leaders of obstructing the peace talks that took place in Türkiye in 2022 and stressed the urgency of finding a diplomatic resolution before tensions escalate toward a potential nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected the peace plan put forward by China and Brazil, labeling it a mere “political statement” and claiming the two nations are “taking Russia’s side” in the dispute. Zelensky maintains that the only practical route to a resolution with Russia is his ten-point ‘peace formula,’ which demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from areas formerly under Ukrainian control and the restoration of the country’s borders as they were in 1991. He has also insisted on Ukraine's accession to NATO for security assurances.
Moscow, on the other hand, asserts that any peace agreement must commence with Ukraine halting military action and recognizing the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control over the Russian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea. Additionally, the Kremlin insists that the goals of its military objectives, which include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, will be fulfilled. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed that he “respected” the efforts of the ‘Friends of Peace’ platform and has been “carefully monitoring” their proposals.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
