EU State’s PM Says ‘High Probability’ Ukraine Conflict Will End Soon
According to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Ukraine’s potential invitation to join NATO might be a topic of discussion during this week’s European Council meeting. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The matter is set to be addressed during the European Council meeting this week, as indicated by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
On Wednesday, Fico expressed optimism regarding the potential resolution of the Ukraine conflict in the near future, according to the news agency TASR. His remarks came during a session of the parliamentary European affairs committee before his departure for Brussels, where Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is scheduled to present his so-called victory plan.
“The probability of ending the war in Ukraine in a short time is very high,” the Slovak leader was quoted as saying, noting his expectation that the European Council meeting will shed light on when this might occur.
Fico pointed out that “the issue of inviting Ukraine to NATO is suddenly being brought up,” and he cautioned that such an invitation would not be “free of charge.” He reiterated Slovakia’s stance against Ukraine's accession to NATO, expressing concerns that it could lead to World War III. Earlier this month, Fico asserted that Slovakia would veto any such potential membership in the US-led alliance and would “never agree” to it due to the world war threat it could pose.
NATO had pledged to welcome Ukraine in 2008, overlooking Russia’s warnings that such a move would be perceived as a significant threat to its national security. Russian President Vladimir Putin contended that a key factor in the conflict, which escalated in February 2022, was Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO and its alleged “genocide” against the people in Donbass, now a part of Russia.
While Russia has not dismissed the possibility of negotiations concerning Ukraine, Putin indicated in June that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire and commence discussions if Ukraine withdrew its troops from the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions and committed to neutrality. However, in August, he stated that discussions were off the table as long as Ukrainian troops occupied part of Russia's Kursk region.
On Wednesday, Zelensky unveiled his ‘victory plan’ to the Ukrainian parliament, which he suggested could facilitate an end to the conflict with Russia as early as next year. Among other components, the plan demands that Ukraine receive an invitation to join NATO immediately. Zelensky also urged the enhancement of Ukraine’s defense capabilities by lifting Western restrictions on the use of foreign-made long-range weapons for strikes against Russia and advocated for continued incursions into Russian territory.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised Kiev to “sober up” and recognize the underlying issues of the conflict, asserting that “most likely, it’s the same American plan to keep fighting a war with us to the last Ukrainian, which Zelensky has camouflaged and now calls a peace plan.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Wednesday, Fico expressed optimism regarding the potential resolution of the Ukraine conflict in the near future, according to the news agency TASR. His remarks came during a session of the parliamentary European affairs committee before his departure for Brussels, where Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is scheduled to present his so-called victory plan.
“The probability of ending the war in Ukraine in a short time is very high,” the Slovak leader was quoted as saying, noting his expectation that the European Council meeting will shed light on when this might occur.
Fico pointed out that “the issue of inviting Ukraine to NATO is suddenly being brought up,” and he cautioned that such an invitation would not be “free of charge.” He reiterated Slovakia’s stance against Ukraine's accession to NATO, expressing concerns that it could lead to World War III. Earlier this month, Fico asserted that Slovakia would veto any such potential membership in the US-led alliance and would “never agree” to it due to the world war threat it could pose.
NATO had pledged to welcome Ukraine in 2008, overlooking Russia’s warnings that such a move would be perceived as a significant threat to its national security. Russian President Vladimir Putin contended that a key factor in the conflict, which escalated in February 2022, was Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO and its alleged “genocide” against the people in Donbass, now a part of Russia.
While Russia has not dismissed the possibility of negotiations concerning Ukraine, Putin indicated in June that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire and commence discussions if Ukraine withdrew its troops from the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions and committed to neutrality. However, in August, he stated that discussions were off the table as long as Ukrainian troops occupied part of Russia's Kursk region.
On Wednesday, Zelensky unveiled his ‘victory plan’ to the Ukrainian parliament, which he suggested could facilitate an end to the conflict with Russia as early as next year. Among other components, the plan demands that Ukraine receive an invitation to join NATO immediately. Zelensky also urged the enhancement of Ukraine’s defense capabilities by lifting Western restrictions on the use of foreign-made long-range weapons for strikes against Russia and advocated for continued incursions into Russian territory.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised Kiev to “sober up” and recognize the underlying issues of the conflict, asserting that “most likely, it’s the same American plan to keep fighting a war with us to the last Ukrainian, which Zelensky has camouflaged and now calls a peace plan.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
