Ukrainian Ambassador Criticises Statements by Defence Ministry Leadership

Bratislava, 24 November (TASR) - Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia Myroslav Kastran has criticised recent statements made by the Defence Ministry leadership, calling them unacceptable and stressing that they echoed Russian propaganda, manipulated the facts and consciously neglected the spirit of good neighbourly relations, TASR has learnt from the Ukrainian Embassy in Slovakia. Defence Ministry State Secretary Igor Melicher stated on TV Markiza on Thursday (20 November) that that it would be best for Slovakia if Ukraine were under Russian influence. Subsequently, on Friday (21 November), Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) said that the war in Ukraine began with "the overthrow of a democratically elected president" in 2014. Kastran noted that Ukraine celebrates the Day of Dignity and Freedom on 21 November to commemorate the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013, also known as Euromaidan, when security forces moved against protesters on the orders of then president Viktor Yanukovych, killing dozens of people. "Such statements on the eve of and directly on the Day of Dignity and Freedom are perceived in Ukraine as disrespect towards the dozens of our fellow citizens who became innocent victims of the Ukrainian nation's efforts for a European future in 2014," stated Kastran. Such statements are all the more unacceptable at a time when Ukraine has been resisting the Russian invasion for almost four years, he added. "These statements do nothing other than echo Russian propaganda, manipulate facts and interfere in Ukraine's sovereignty, while also consciously neglecting the spirit of good neighbourly relations and the partnership between our states, as was reflected during the latest, third round of Ukrainian-Slovak intergovernmental talks in Kosice," he noted. Kastran stressed that Ukraine appreciates the assistance that Slovakia has provided to Ukraine and its people since the beginning of the war, but he called on the Slovak side to "remain consistent in its statements concerning support for Ukraine's European future, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity". Bringing an end to the war as soon as possible and achieving a just and lasting peace can only be done by respecting the conscious decision of the other side and by calling things by their proper names, in particular as regards awareness of who the aggressor is and who the victim is, said the Ukrainian ambassador. jrg/df