Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sharply responds to Slovak colleague’s call to forgive Russia for all its crimes
Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii sybiha, openly expressed his stance regarding the recent statements made by Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, who suggested that it might be time to consider forgiveness for Russia and its actions. In a strong response, the Ukrainian diplomat emphasized that the idea of simply forgiving Russia is not only impractical but also extremely dangerous for the international community, especially for Ukraine, which is still bearing the consequences of Russian aggression. According to Sybiha, 'a sense of impunity that prevails in Russia is the root cause of its crimes; imagining that a criminal can be forgiven or unpunished is naive and perilous.' He added that expecting those who have suffered losses, endured pain, and witnessed destruction during this war to accept such statements is not only naive but also irresponsible. The Ukrainian minister stressed that Ukraine will not relinquish its responsibility to hold Russia accountable for its crimes. He further stated that policies of sanctions and support for measures against Russia will continue until full peace is restored. Sybiha noted that those who have not lost anyone in this war have no right to make such statements, and disregarding the realities and tragedies faced by Ukraine is unacceptable. Moreover, he emphasized that on the international stage, no concessions should be made, and attempts to portray Russia’s actions as forgivable pose a threat to global security. Ukraine insists on a firm and consistent policy of isolating Russia and upholding its responsibility for international crimes, emphasizing that dialogue about 'forgiveness' is out of the question until Russia ceases its aggression.