According to Russian media reports, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár told reporters after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the UN General Assembly that EU sanctions have a limited impact on Russia but a very serious impact on the European economy itself.

Juraj Blanár said that the 19th round of EU sanctions against Russia did not change the course of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Slovakia has not yet found a reasonable and economically feasible alternative to Russian energy. He also pointed out that many European countries need Russian energy and last year some European countries increased their purchases of Russian natural gas.

CMG