Monitor: President: West Should Step Up Its Efforts to Communicate with Russia

(STVR, 'Sobotne dialogy', 5 September) Together with Ukraine, the West should step up its efforts to communicate with Russia, President Peter Pellegrini stated on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), adding that dialogue and the pursuit of a diplomatic solution are crucial. According to the head of state, the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine can only be resolved through diplomacy. "I understand that the aim of strengthening Ukraine - and we discuss this at length at meetings of presidents from across Western Europe - is for Ukraine to sit down at the negotiating table as an equal partner to Russia. ... I also understand Ukraine's deep strikes into Russian territory, intended to demonstrate that it's capable of inflicting significant damage on Russian infrastructure as well," he said, noting, however, that, on the other hand, the war is beginning to spill over the borders. He pointed out that some attacks will be organised directly from Russia. In this context, Pellegrini reiterated his position that both the state and companies manufacturing military equipment or ammunition must take appropriate measures. He explained that he had also discussed the matter with Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD). am