You're reading: Slovakia backs calling Russia-NATO Council meeting to discuss Ukraine issue – Slovak foreign minister

Slovakia supports the idea of calling a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in order to discuss the Ukrainian issue alongside other topics, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak has said.

“Indeed, we support the convocation of the Russia-NATO Council. But this does not mean that we will return to the situation prior to the annexation of Crimea,” Lajcak told a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Kyiv on Feb. 2.

“The Ukrainian issue should be the first one at a meeting in such a format,” he said.

“Dialogue is a foundation for diplomacy, and it is better than keeping silent. It is important for it [dialogue] to be open and even criticizing,” he said.