BRATISLAVA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday called for a quick end to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
He said the conflict is "a misfortune for everyone" and stressed that every war must end at the negotiating table.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of a joint session between the Slovak and Ukrainian governments scheduled for the coming Monday, Fico expressed Slovakia's commitment to maintaining friendly relations with Ukraine.
However, the Slovak leader also voiced his intention to restore ties with Russia, saying that if the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends during his tenure, he would do his utmost to restore ties, especially economic relations, with Russia.
"The European Union needs the Russian Federation and the Russian Federation needs, of course, the European Union," Fico said. ■
