Latest news with #PeterPellegrini
Budapest Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
President Sulyok: Hungary and Slovakia share goal of filling good neighborly relations with content
Following talks with his Slovak counterpart, Peter Pellegrini, in Bratislava on Thursday, President Tamás Sulyok said Hungary and Slovakia share the goal of 'filling good neighborly relations, built on mutual trust, with content despite challenges of the 21st century'. The president said the talks focused on bilateral ties and regional cooperation, with special regard to defence ties such as planning and exercises within the auspices of NATO. He noted that Hungary's contribution to the protection of Slovakia's airspace was 'an important security policy component'. President Sulyok said bilateral ties with Slovakia were improving with 'unprecedented intensity and mutual trust', and pointed to a 'vivacious political dialogue' and infrastructure developments on both sides of the Hungary-Slovakia border. He said Hungary will place special emphasis on the development of regional ties during its six-month presidency of the Visegrad Group, which it assumes on July 1. Sulyok also expressed hope that the central European cooperation would be given new momentum, and that the upcoming summit of V4 presidents would help deepen the grouping's strategic significance. President Sulyok said that at their talks, he and Pellegrini were in agreement on their support for speeding up the Western Balkans region's European integration, arguing that the region was crucial for European unity. Energy security, he said, was also crucial to both countries, adding that nuclear energy, the increased use of renewable resources and the expansion of infrastructure links could boost regional energy security. The V4 countries also had to be united in their opposition to migration as well as their push for the protection of the EU's external borders and the stabilisation of migrants' countries of origin. Meanwhile, President Sulyok said Hungary viewed both its ethnic Slovak minority and the ethnic Hungarian community in Slovakia as assets.
Russia Today
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU country calls for dialogue with Russia
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has said the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved by military means, urging Western nations to engage in direct dialogue with Russia. Speaking on Sunday during a discussion program on Slovakia's public broadcaster STVR, Blanar warned that escalating tensions could trigger a global war. 'We do not want a war between Russia and NATO to break out, because that would be the Third World War. We want the conflict to be settled peacefully,' he said, as quoted by local media. Blanar stressed the importance of diplomacy, calling for a return to 'respect for international law' and suggesting that the West should find a way to engage with Moscow, 'and perhaps even forgive everything that has happened.' Slovakia, along with Hungary, has consistently pushed for de-escalation and opposed further EU sanctions against Russia. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has also urged EU member states to resume direct talks with Moscow, while rejecting calls for a rapid NATO military buildup. He argued that defense spending should reflect each country's national priorities rather than fear of Russia. Russian officials have condemned the US-led bloc's decision last week for member states to raise military budgets to 5% of GDP, presented as a way to deter the alleged 'long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security.' The Kremlin has repeatedly said it has no intention of attacking any NATO member state, dismissing such claims as 'nonsense' and scare tactics used by Western officials to justify more money for defense. Moscow maintains it is committed to reaching a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that any lasting agreement must include recognition of the situation 'on the ground' and Ukrainian neutrality. Moscow and Kiev remain in contact regarding a potential third round of negotiations, according to the Russian leader. Following earlier meetings in Türkiye, the two sides have exchanged draft peace proposals and conducted a series of prisoner exchanges.
Russia Today
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state's president calls on other members to talk to Russia
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has called on EU members to reopen direct talks with Moscow, while stressing that NATO military spending should reflect national priorities rather than fears of Russia.'We need to start talking to the Russian Federation,' Pellegrini told TA3 television on Sunday. 'Let two or three leaders step up… for example, [Italian] Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.'He defended Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had drawn criticism from several Western governments. The two leaders held talks in Moscow in May during WWII Victory Day commemorations, where they discussed bilateral ties and the Ukraine president also rejected NATO's push for a rapid military buildup.'It should not be fear of Russia that drives us into rearmament. We ourselves must decide what strength and condition we want our armed forces to be in,' he said. He added that the defense industry is unprepared for large-scale procurement and stressed that public views on Moscow vary across the bloc. 'Half of society may not even see Russia as a threat,' Pellegrini along with Italy and the UK, supported setting 2035 as the target year for meeting the alliance's goal of spending 5% of GDP on backed Fico's demand for energy security assurances before approving the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, saying he saw no reason to oppose the move if it served the country's national Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar echoed Pellegrini's position, stating that the Ukraine conflict cannot be solved militarily. Speaking to the local public broadcaster STVR, Blanar said peace requires renewed communication with Moscow.'Let us return to respect for international law and seek ways to communicate with the Russian Federation,' he said, adding that the West should also find a way to work with Russia, 'and perhaps even forgive everything that has happened.'Along with Hungary, Slovakia has been one of the few NATO members to call for the de-escalation of tensions with Russia.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine.
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine. 'Neutrality would be very beneficial for Slovakia,' he said, adding that, 'Unfortunately, such a decision is not in my hands.' Fico's comments suggested a withdrawal from NATO, but when pressed by reporters to elaborate he declined to comment. Fico would not have the authority to pull Slovakia out of the alliance, which could be prompted by a referendum and would require action by Parliament. A broad spectrum of politicians rejected the notion in reaction to his comments. NATO meets for a summit in the Netherlands on June 24-25, where the allies are due to agree a new defense spending target in line with demands by U.S. President Donald Trump. The aim is to increase the spending to 3.5% of GDP for core defense spending on tanks, warplanes, air defense, missiles and hiring extra troops. A further 1.5% would be spent on things like roads, bridges, ports and airfields. Slovakia, a NATO member since 2004, currently spends 2%. Pellegrini and most Slovakian politicians, from the government and the opposition, dismissed Fico's suggestion to become neutral. The president said that Slovakia will stay united with its allies on the spending issue at the summit. Fico's views on Russia's war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. He opposes any military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. Unlike many Western politicians, Fico has not visited Kyiv since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion more than three years ago. His government has faced vocal protests against its pro-Russian stance and other policies.
