Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák received the new Russian Ambassador to Slovakia Alexey Leonidovich Fedotov on Tuesday, who presented copies of his credentials to the Slovak official.
The meeting revolved mainly around issues of bilateral interest that have recently been influenced by developments in ties between the EU and Russia along with the situation in Ukraine. Lajčák said at the meeting that the general election in Ukraine on Sunday laid the groundwork for the normalisation of the situation in the country. “Now a new government in Kiev needs to be formed post haste, and it has to address necessary reforms. To this end, however, strict adherence to the agreements made in Minsk, including the upholding of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, is called for”, said Lajčák. As far as Slovak-Russian relations go, Lajčák said that Slovakia is committed to the development of constructive, pragmatic and result-oriented cooperation in trade and economy, where Russia is Slovakia's most important partner outside the EU. Lajčák and Fedotov also discussed the issue of gas supplies from Russia to Slovakia, with Lajčák expressing his hope that Gazprom will adhere to the terms and conditions of the contract on gas supplies as agreed with Slovakia and western Europe.
