Slovenia's Foreign Minister Talks Ukraine/Russia

Summary

Bloomberg Talks: Slovenia's Foreign Minister on Ukraine/Russia

Date: December 9, 2025
Guest: Tanja Fajon, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Republic of Slovenia
Host: Bloomberg

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Overview

This episode features a candid conversation with Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, focusing on the evolving Ukraine-Russia conflict, current peace negotiations influenced by President Trump and his envoys, and the role of European allies. Minister Fajon, with Slovenia holding the presidency at the UN Security Council, shares her perspective on diplomacy, security guarantees, and Europe's responsibility in fostering just and lasting peace.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: Trump's Peace Proposal

• President Trump (and envoys Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio) has presented a new peace plan to Ukraine, insisting on a rapid response from President Zelensky.
• Concerns surface that the proposal may disproportionately favor Russia and require Ukraine to concede sovereign territory.
• Trump's remarks highlight skepticism of European allies’ resolve and capabilities.

Notable Quote:

“I think they're weak, but I also think that they want to be so politically correct. I think they don't know what to do. Europe doesn't know what to do...”
— Donald Trump (01:29)

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Europe’s Position & Desire for Just Peace

[02:14] - Fajon responds to Trump’s critique:

• EU, through security council and directly, is urgently calling for “immediate and unconditional cease fire.”
• Emphasizes the war’s toll: “a lot of civilian deaths, a lot of children deaths, destroyed energy infrastructure, and severe violations of international law and the UN Charter.”
• The goal is a peace that is “acceptable for Ukraine,” with Ukraine included in negotiations.

Notable Quote:

“We are observing the fourth year of brutal Russian aggression in Ukraine... Everyone, including Ukrainians, wants to see just and lasting peace.”
— Tanja Fajon (02:14)

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Is the Trump Plan Fair or Feasible?

[03:25] - Minister Fajon on ongoing negotiations:

• Welcomes renewed diplomatic engagement, but underscores that peace must include Ukraine and European security guarantees.
• Reiteration of international law, the need for meaningful diplomacy, and the human suffering observed firsthand.

Notable Quote:

“I encourage diplomacy to work and I encourage all sides to be equally engaged, especially Ukraine, because Ukraine is deciding about its own future.”
— Tanja Fajon (03:38)

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Can There Be Peace By Christmas?

[05:05] - On Trump’s deadline-driven approach:

• Fajon is skeptical about rapid progress while “there are bombings every day,” even as she welcomes dialogue.
• She repeats the centrality of “international law and a UN Charter” as the foundation for negotiations.

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Who Has the Stronger Hand?

[06:09] — Trump in Politico interview:

• Trump unequivocally states, “there can be no question about it. It's Russia. It's a much bigger country.”

[06:51] - Minister Fajon addresses Ukraine’s position:

• Argues Ukraine’s morale is high; determination and historical precedent (Yugoslavia) inform her conviction that “no one... can by force simply take your land away.”
• Any lasting agreement must respect sovereignty and integrity.

Notable Quote:

“I think Ukraine has high morale and it's quite an inspiration to see people fighting for their own territory in the country. ... No one, and I will repeat it, no one, can by force simply take your land away.”
— Tanja Fajon (06:51)

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Can Putin Be Trusted?

[07:34] — Interviewer asks about historic trust issues:

• Fajon invokes the 80th anniversary of the UN, calling for a recommitment to collective peace.
• She stresses Europe's “moral responsibility” during this era of “terrible geopolitical turbulence.”

Notable Quote:

“I think this is a good moment to reflect ourselves, where is our responsibility and maybe to recommit to these values.”
— Tanja Fajon (07:49)

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What If Ukraine Concedes Territory?

[08:27] — Consequences for Europe:

• Minister declines to “prejudge the negotiations,” saying the final shape of any deal is for Ukraine to decide.
• Affirms Ukraine as “clearly the victim of this war.”

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Memorable Quotes & Attribution

• On diplomatic engagement:

  “It is good that there is a time also for diplomacy, for searching for political solution instead of a military one.”
  — Tanja Fajon (03:25)

• On European resolve:

  “Europe has to be at the table. We are discussing about strong security guarantees for the countries that something like similar wouldn’t happen again in the future.”
  — Tanja Fajon (03:35)

• On the pain of war:

  “When you see young people, children being amputated without legs, without arms, I mean, these are war’s victims. So we do have to all do more.”
  — Tanja Fajon (03:41)

• Trump on negotiating power:

  “It's Russia. It's a much bigger country.”
  — Donald Trump (06:14)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:29] — Trump remarks on Europe’s weaknesses and trade
• [02:14] — Fajon on the human and political devastation in Ukraine
• [03:25] — Fajon welcomes diplomacy but demands Ukraine’s inclusion
• [05:05] — Feasibility of a pre-Christmas peace deal
• [06:09-06:45] — Trump’s perspective on power dynamics and territory lost
• [06:51] — Fajon counters: Ukraine’s morale and sovereignty
• [07:49] — Can Putin be trusted? Fajon calls for renewed commitment to peace
• [08:38] — On hypothetical Ukrainian concessions: Fajon refuses to prejudge

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Conclusion

Minister Tanja Fajon brings a measured, resolutely diplomatic stance to the discussion, positioning Slovenia and Europe as guardians of international law and collective security. She repeatedly presses that any peace must be just, lasting, and fundamentally shaped by Ukrainians themselves. While welcoming US-led negotiations, she remains wary of the dangers imposed by rushed deadlines and solutions imposed without Ukrainian or European engagement—reinforcing the idea that history, law, and fairness must drive any real solution.

Transcript

[Interviewer]

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[Tanja Fajon]

Bloomberg audio Studios Podcasts, radio news not to.

[Interviewer]

Mention what is happening in Ukraine and throughout Europe right now. President Trump has been speaking quite a bit about this recently with a new security plan and a new peace proposal for Ukraine. We find the headline on the terminal before we spend some time with the foreign Minister of Slovenia, Trump gives Zelensky days to respond to a peace proposal. This is the plan that has been hashed out with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and to a lesser extent, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Over the past couple of weeks, Trump's envoys, according to the Financial Times, have given Zelensky only days to respond to a proposed peace deal. The president saying just on Sunday evening at the Kennedy center that he was disappointed President Zelensky hadn't even read the proposal yet because there are great concerns that this proposal favors Russia and would force Ukraine to give up part of its sovereign territory. Bigger questions about President Trump's view of our allies in Europe. He was asked about this in his sit down interview with Politico.

[Donald Trump]

Listen, I think they're weak, but I also think that they want to be so politically correct. I think they don't know what to do. Europe doesn't know what to do. They don't know what to do on trade either. I mean, I look at a lot of the trade, you know, situation that's going on over there. It's a little bit dangerous.

[Interviewer]

That's where we start our conversation with the Minister of Foreign and European affairs, the Republic of Slovenia, Tanya Fayon, with us live from world headquarters in New York. Minister, welcome to Bloomberg TV and Radio. It's great to have you with us as part of our conversation. We'll start broadly here in the president's remarks about Europe. Is he missing something that you wish he knew?

[Tanja Fajon]

First, thank you for inviting me. We just had a very good discussion in the Security Council on Ukraine, which was at points quite emotional and rightly so. We are observing the fourth year of brutal Russian aggression in Ukraine with a lot of civilian deaths, a lot of children, deaths destroyed energy infrastructure, and severe violations of international law and the UN Charter. So everyone, including Ukrainians, wants to see just and lasting peace. And everyone in the Security Council, 14 countries are permanently calling for an immediate and unconditional cease fire. So I think it is very clear that is Russia, we want to see peace, and we want to see just lasting peace. That means that the peace is also acceptable for Ukraine.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Well, we should note, and I appreciate your answer, that Slovenia currently holds the presidency at the UN Security Council. So your views are important here. Do you worry that this plan on the table now favors Russia and would hurt Ukraine and therefore the rest of Europe?

[Tanja Fajon]

I mean, the negotiations are ongoing. And I, of course, commend the US Administration, Trump and everyone involved, because it is good that there is a time also for diplomacy, for searching for political solution instead of a military one. Of course, first is, as I said before, immediate and urgent seat cease fire needed, and then meaningful negotiations. Ukraine has to be at the table. Europe has to be at the table. We are discussing about strong security guarantees for the countries that something like similar wouldn't happen again in the future. And it's also about accountability. It is a brutal war that is ongoing. We see really horrible acts. I was traveling myself not long ago in Ukraine, in several parts of the country. When you see young people, children being amputated without legs, without arms, I mean, these are worse victims. So we do have to all do more. And I encourage diplomacy to work and I encourage all sides to be equally engaged, especially Ukraine, because Ukraine is deciding about its own future. We speak about territorial sovereignty and integrity. No one by force can change the internationally recognized borders.

[Interviewer]

Hmm. You know, when you consider the idea of this peace plan being accepted within days, the FTSE is reporting that that timeline is keying off President Trump's hope to have a peace deal in place, a deal agreed to by Christmas. Minister, is that possible?

[Tanja Fajon]

I mean, I wish to see that it is possible. I think we all wish to see just and lasting peace for Ukraine and a peace agreement. But this is a question mostly for those that are sitting at the table. I speak mostly here about President Zelensky. He's speaking about the state and about the future of his state. That's why I say it's very important that everyone is at the table, that the dialogue is ongoing. But still, as long as there are bombings every day, I don't see it's a. It's a good way to find a meaningful negotiation. So, yes, I do commend the efforts of Trump and administration because we start talking and Europeans. But it is clear how these talks should be conducted meaningful way and based on an international law and a UN Charter.

[Interviewer]

Minister Fayon, President Trump sat for an extended interview with Politico and was asked about these negotiations. I'd like you to hear what he said, and we'll have you respond.

[Tanja Fajon]

Listen, which country right now is in the stronger negotiating position?

[Donald Trump]

Well, there can be no question about it. It's Russia. It's a much bigger country.

[Tanja Fajon]

Zelensky rejects this deal. Is there a timeline, Is there a point at which you say, well, he's.

[Donald Trump]

Going to have to get on the ball and start accepting things, you know, when you're losing, is it losing?

[Tanja Fajon]

Do Ukraine has. Do you think Ukraine has lost this war?

[Donald Trump]

Well, they've lost territory long before I got here. They lost a whole strip of seafront, big seafront.

[Interviewer]

Minister Fayon, I'll ask you the same question. Do you believe Ukraine is losing this war?

[Tanja Fajon]

I think Ukraine has high morale and it's quite an inspiration to see people fighting for their own territory in the country. As I said before, no one, and I will repeat it, no one, can by force simply take your land away. We had our own history, former Yugoslavia, and that is why I say it's all about territorial sovereignty and integrity. If there is meaningful negotiations after the cease fire, it has to be respected and negotiated. So I do hope that the President, Putin, Zelensky, Trump, will sit down and find a solution that is acceptable and for peace, for security and for the future of Ukraine.

[Interviewer]

Well, you remind us, Europeans have long memories. And I wonder, even if we have a peace deal with signatures on the table and a security guarantee, does history suggest you can trust Vladimir Putin with a deal?

[Tanja Fajon]

I mean, we are this year in 80s, year of anniversary of United Nations. 80 years ago, our leaders committed to values of securing collective peace and security for our citizens around the world. I think this is a good moment to reflect ourselves, where is our responsibility and maybe to recommit to these values. I think we live in times of this terrible geopolitical turbulence, with too many armed conflicts in the west and we need to protect civilians. I think this is our really moral, if nothing else, responsibility.

[Interviewer]

If Vladimir Zelinsky gives up the Donbas, gives up territorial gains that Russia has made, Minister, in our remaining moment, what will that mean for the rest of Europe?

[Tanja Fajon]

You don't expect that I will prejudge the negotiations and the end result? I think this is up to President Zelensky for the talks about what is acceptable and negotiable for Ukraine that is clearly the victim of this war.

[Interviewer]

I'm really glad you could join us today and I appreciate your coming to see us at our headquarters in New York. Minister, thank you. Tanya Fayon, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Republic of Slovenia. In a conversation you will not hear anywhere else.

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