Vizdal was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine the day after the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Miroslav Kastran, to whom they expressed strong protest following the statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was "poisoned by Russian propaganda". The Slovak Ministry also accused Kyiv of interfering in the country's internal affairs.
In response to Vizdal, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ukraine maintains and develops good relations with all international partners who provide comprehensive support to the country in the face of Russia's full-scale armed aggression.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Mishchenko expressed deep disappointment that "Fico acts as a mouthpiece for the Kremlin and, disregarding the Slovak Republic's membership in the EU, resorts to illogical actions."
"Such actions by representatives of the Slovak government are unacceptable, especially in the context of Russia's unprecedented aggression against Ukraine, and they seriously harm not only the traditionally good relations between Ukraine and Slovakia but also undermine the unity of the EU and the Euro-Atlantic community in countering the aggressor state," Mishchenko emphasized, as quoted by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's website.
The ministry added that attempts by the Slovak government to "maintain dependence on Russian energy supplies, contrary to the joint efforts of the EU and European partners to reduce such dependence and diversify energy sources," are unacceptable, as well as "ignoring the arguments from the Ukrainian side regarding depriving Russia of funds for financing terrorism against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."
"Official Bratislava is called upon to cease such practices and return to constructive dialogue and the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries and peoples," the statement said.
Mishchenko pointed out to Vizdal that the Ukrainian people, who today pay with their lives for their freedom and the security of all of Europe, "maintain deep gratitude towards the people of Slovakia for all the support and assistance received since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression," the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded.