In regard to the situation in Ukraine, Slovakia faces several security risks which it must confront effectively, Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a press conference on Thursday.
“The information that we have available, confirm that the internal threat of military conflict in some parts of Ukraine is very high. Similarly, we have information about the total political destabilisation of this country,” said Fico pointing out to the need for a constant monitoring of the situation in Ukraine. Slovakia and Ukraine share nearly 100 kilometres of a common border, which is also the border of the Schengen area, which guarantees a certain level of security. Therefore, according to Fico, the Slovak Intelligence Service is working at full capacity. Moreover, the Slovak Security Council is on standby, while Fico didn’t exclude the option that he would convene it sometime soon. As he further said, if economic sanctions are imposed on Russia, the Slovak economy would be severely affected. The European Union has declared several times that in the event of further infringing on the territorial integrity of Ukraine by Moscow, the EU will impose economic sanctions on Russia. “We believe that such a situation won't happen and that a diplomatic solution to the situation in Ukraine will gain preference instead,” said Fico. At the same time he confirmed Government's readiness, if the situation requires, convening an extraordinary session to discuss a package of special security measures.
