There is a possibility that a politician known for his controversial statements about Ukraine may become the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia under the leadership of Robert Fico, who is also known for his anti-Ukrainian stance. Juraj Blanar, the former head of the Zilina region, is being considered as a potential candidate for this position, despite his lack of diplomatic experience and his contentious statements regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to information from the Aktuality portal, the appointment of Blanar has been under discussion for some time. Alongside Juraj Blanar, the candidacy of diplomat Miroslav Lajcak and Marek Estok, who previously served as Slovakia's ambassador to France, was also considered.

Previously, it was planned that Robert Fico himself would temporarily head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Blanar eventually accepted the position, even though he had initially been reluctant. It is important to note that Blanar lacks diplomatic experience but has made numerous contentious and unverified statements about the conflict in Ukraine.

Among his statements, he has referred to the war in Ukraine as a "conflict between Russia and the United States" and has expressed opposition to providing Ukraine with weapons, arguing that it could "weaken Slovakia's defence." He has also claimed that the conflict in Ukraine worsened during the events of the 2013 Maidan and has had "devastating consequences."

Blanar has criticised Ukrainian leaders for "extreme Ukrainian nationalism" and asserted that the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 led to the fragmentation of Ukraine and a civil war.

It is important to emphasise that in 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Blanar accused Ukraine of waging war against its own people and called for a focus on protecting the rights of Russian-speaking residents.

Unfortunately, these statements by Juraj Blanar confirm his anti-Ukrainian position, which could impact Slovakia's foreign policy towards Ukraine.