BUENOS AIRES, December 12. /TASS/. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, currently on an official visit to Brazil, stated that Slovakia supports normalizing relations between Russia and Western countries while opposing the emergence of a new iron curtain in Europe.

"I want to normalize relations with Russia and initiate a normal dialogue, as the current situation is far from normal," he said in an interview with Brazil's Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. "I guarantee that once the war ends, relations will be rebuilt based on mutual interests. Everyone will engage with Russia and seek to trade with them."

According to Fico, he opposes the emergence of a new "iron curtain" between Russia and Europe, referencing the term used by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1946 at the onset of the Cold War between the USSR and the US. The Slovak politician also emphasized that all conflicts ultimately end through negotiations. As the leader of a Slavic state, he expressed support for the early initiation of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier, Fico stated that Slovakia would fully support the peace plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine proposed by Brazil and China. The plan underscores that negotiations are the only path to resolving the conflict and highlights the necessity of organizing a peace conference acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.