THE RECENT push to increase sanctions on Russia is sufficient and there are no vigorous actions needed, Slovak President Andrej Kiska told to press after meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer on July 17.
“If agreements are being violated, sanctions are required and necessary,” Kiska said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “In order to resolve the conflicts, dialogue and explanations are vital. This must be backed by confidence, however; so that we can be sure that the words uttered at the negotiating table will hold true.”
Kiska, who was in Austria on an official visit, went on to claim that it is important for the Visegrad Four countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) as well as for the whole European Union to speak in unison.
Kiska’s statements about the need to pursue dialogue were echoed by Fischer who told journalists that sanctions should be only the last resort.
Meanwhile, meeting at an extraordinary summit in Brussels on Wednesday senior EU representatives initiated an expansion of the second phase of sanctions against companies, including those from Russia, that are deemed to be undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Further, athe EU appealed on Russia to use its influence on military units sympathising with this country in order to stop circulation of weapons and soldiers across the Ukraine-Russia border, TASR reported.
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
