According to Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, the country must prepare responsibly for the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We support Ukraine's territorial integrity and in the event of any violation of it, we are in favour of a united, swift and decisive response," the prime minister said following a video conference with European Union representatives on Monday, convened by European Council President Charles Michel. According to Heger, further negotiations are still needed to de-escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Former foreign minister and diplomat Jan Kubis told TASR news agency in an interview on Monday that Slovakia should seek solutions to the Ukrainian crisis together with all partner countries including Russia, Ukraine, the EU, NATO and OSCE. Kubis praised last week's visit by chief of Slovak diplomacy Ivan Korcok to Ukraine along with his confreres from Czechia and Austria. "I think that this is the good way, also in light of the fact that we as a country respect and support Ukraine to decide by itself how it wants to ensure its security and further development, yet at the same time we're not Russophobes and don't see Russia as an enemy – and we shouldn't," he said.
Meanwhile, Slovakia hasn't yet registered any spike in the demand for access to its territory from Ukrainian nationals with respect to the Ukrainian crisis. Interior Minister Roman Mikulec posted on a social network on Monday, however, that Slovakia is prepared for a potential influx of migrants across the external EU border. There are 31 border crossings between the EU and Ukraine, four of them situated on the eastern border of Slovakia. At the same time, Slovakia has drafted an emergency plan for the deployment of forces and equipment. "We can reinforce the border checks with our own personnel and also European border guards from the Frontex agency," stated Mikulec.
