BRATISLAVA, December 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments about the possibility of talks on resolving the Ukraine conflict in Slovakia are an encouraging sign, Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar said on Friday.

"Slovakia has consistently supported peaceful solutions [to resolve the Ukraine conflict]. We back any peace initiatives," the TASR news agency quoted Blanar as saying. "In this context, we see the statement by the Russian president, who acknowledged that part of the discussions on resolving [the Ukraine issue] could take place in Slovakia, as an encouraging sign for a swift end to this war, bloodshed, and destruction."

The minister recalled Slovakia's efforts to secure an early ceasefire and initiate negotiations for lasting peace in Ukraine. "That is why I also attended the peace summit in Switzerland this year. All participants agreed with the [initiatives] our government is advocating. [They concurred that] further peace talks should include all parties, including Russia," Blanar said.