On 3 March 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine invited Chargé d'Affaires of the Slovak Republic in Ukraine Matúš Korba to express him its protest over inappropriate remarks made by Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovič during his interview on the Slovak Radio «Express».

Regardless of motives, genre or context, such remarks of the Head of the Slovak Government, which directly allude to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, are categorically unacceptable and have negative impact on the friendly and good-neighborly atmosphere of the Ukrainian-Slovak relations.

A «joke» sounds especially offensive to the Ukrainian people suffering from the Russian aggression and Russian occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as well as parts of the Ukrainian Donbas.

Inappropriate words of the Slovak Prime Minister contradict with Slovakia's consistent position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands official apologies from the Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovič for his inappropriate remarks.

The Ambassador of Ukraine Yurii Mushka also made a demarche at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.