Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bojan Mariciк in the show Samo intervju on Kanal 5, referred to current political topics related to the crisis in Ukraine, the country's European integration process and negotiations with the Republic of Bulgaria.

Deputy Prime Minister Maricik reaffirmed the government's stance on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and personally condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine. He also stressed the government's support for the set of measures against Russia that the European Union introduced after the invasion.

- We are a NATO member state that respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine. We, as the Government, join the set of sanctions and measures against Russia that the EU has introduced after the invasion, and in that sense we are fully in line with the Union's foreign and security policy. "We will coordinate and follow the next steps that the European Union will take," Maricik said.

The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that the Government and he personally supports a diplomatic solution and to cease fire as soon as possible, because it will be better for Ukraine and Russia, as well as for world peace.

- I think it is important to make a format of talks that will end the war because we know the consequences of that, added Deputy Prime Minister Maricik.

Asked how realistic Russia's threats to the Western Balkans are, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik said that the EU, NATO and the United States should be aware that the Balkans are in a state of waiting, both in terms of European integration and other currents, therefore the important initiatives for regional cooperation, the chance of the EU at this time is to show leadership and clear policy for the Western Balkans, because the Western Balkan countries have a European future and it certainly depends on the reform effort, but also on the mood in the EU.

Regarding the issue with Bulgaria, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the points under discussion want to be addressed in today's context and that we should not go back.

We have said that the Macedonian language should not and can not be the subject of negotiations and that for us nothing but the Macedonian language and the preservation of the Macedonian identity and the Macedonian people can be acceptable. We try to find a solution and formulations that will be equally good and compromise for all parties without encroaching on our identity and language, and we will insist on that until the end. At the moment, we have intensive communication with the Republic of Bulgaria at the highest level, concluded Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Maricik.