President Zuzana Caputova on Thursday strongly condemned Russia's unlawful aggression against Ukraine and expressed her full support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the country's leadership and President Volodymyr Zelensky. In her first reaction, the Slovak president said that "the hopes of those who thought that Russia would be satisfied with the military occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been shown to be an illusion." The invasion has been condemned across the political ranks and spectrum in Slovakia. On Thursday morning, Slovakia's Security Council convened a special session in response to the current situation in Ukraine.
Following the council meeting, PM Eduard Heger has called on the public not to believe disinformation campaigns and keep calm in regard to the situation in Ukraine. He also asked for their sympathy with the war refugees. "Along with its allies in NATO and the European Union, Slovakia is ready to provide help to end the conflict in Ukraine and to protect human lives", said president Zuzana Caputova. The eastern border with Ukraine should be militarily reinforced, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said, adding that the increased numbers of soldiers will assist the police for the time being. He added that the Slovak Government views it very unlikely that Russia would attack Slovakia militarily. Meanwhile, Nad along with Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok reported on the special meeting of the NATO Council at which several allies requested the activation of Article 4, which concerns consultations when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any ally is threatened.
Awaiting the outcomes of the Security Council session, the Slovak Armed Forces informed that they had adopted all necessary measures for the elevation of their readiness including the preparedness level. According to Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer, deploying the military in Ukraine would mean a direct war conflict between NATO countries and Russia.
Slovakia has passed a resolute protest note to Russia in response to the latter's attack on Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok announced on Thursday. Russian Ambassador to Slovakia Igor Bratchikov was summoned to the ministry in the morning and was told that Slovakia views such a military attack as unprovoked, unjustified and illegal. The ministry voiced deep disappointment in Russia, which, as a founding member of the UN and the country currently presiding over the UN Security Council, bears special responsibility for stability and peace in the world.
In the meantime, the European leaders informed that they plan to slap the harshest package of sanctions ever implemented on Russia for attacking Ukraine. In his Thursday address, the Czech president Miloš Zeman openly called for cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system.
Foreign policy analyst Alexander Duleba in an interview with RTVS stated that Ukraine would not be alone in this situation because this is about the security of all of us. According to retired Slovak army general Pavol Macko, the invasion showed us that Slovakia has a neighbour or an “almost neighbour”, that is ready to pursue its interests in an unacceptable forceful manner.
The capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, has expressed its support for Ukraine. At the same time, it announced its willingness to help its partner city Kyiv and all Ukrainians by building a shelter town for possible refugees from Ukraine. The town of Trnava expressed solidarity with its partner city of Kharkov, and according to its spokesperson Veronika Majtanova, they are offering material assistance.
According to the Border Police directorate, the situation at the border crossings between Slovakia and Ukraine is currently calm. The waiting times to enter Slovakia range between 90 and 330 minutes.
UPDATED: 13:30
Source: RTVS, TASR
Zuzana Botiková, TASR, Photo: Prezident.sk
