Ruptly
"Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar criticised EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday after she said Europe would not act as a 'neutral mediator' between Moscow and Kiev because the bloc supports the 'Ukrainian side.' Kallas made those comments after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday, arguing that the EU was on Ukraine's side and defending its own core security interests. Blanar said he found the position 'questionable' and 'baffling,' arguing that such logic would make mediation impossible in almost any conflict. "If we proceeded this way in any conflict, then no one would be able to mediate anything," he said. The Slovak foreign minister pointed to the United States, saying Washington also supported Ukraine from the beginning but was still involved in diplomatic efforts. "The United States of America stood just as much on Ukraine’s side from the beginning," Blanar said, adding that the US continues to supply weapons to Kiev, although European countries are now helping pay for them. Blanar also claimed that the EU had placed itself in a 'diplomatic dead end' by financing the war effort while failing to secure a seat at the negotiating table. "We are not at the table at all, yet we are financing this entire process completely," he said, adding that the conflict should end through 'dialogue.' "The European Union is incapable of engaging in it because it is not at the table," Blanar concluded. Following Kallas' remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "I don't bother discussing such idiotic statements!" Moscow has repeatedly said it is open to talks with the EU. The bloc has not so far chosen to appoint a negotiator. According to Western outlets, many within the EU are reportedly opposed to Kallas taking the role - with her seen as too 'hawkish' on Russia."
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