On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Rastislav Kacer opened a conference organised by the ministry in co-operation with a group of NGOs and experts lead by the Slovak Foreign Policy Association with the topics of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the post-war reconstruction of the country and cooperation within the Visegrad Group (V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), which Slovakia is currently chairing, high on the agenda. "The world is facing serious challenges, and Russia's aggression against Ukraine has become a defining moment for the future of Europe. If we don't stand up to Russia, we'll endanger not only our security and way of life, but also democracy itself. The Kremlin is returning to the logic of the Cold War - restoring spheres of influence and ideology that denies the right of nations to exist. We must prevent this, there is no other way," said Minister Kacer in his opening speech.
The head of Slovak diplomacy also called for the continuation of and an increase in aid to Ukraine, describing the Central European region, and especially unity within the V4, as crucial.
"If we don't cooperate, we'll sign our own death warrants. But it makes no sense to pretend that the situation within the Visegrad Four is good because it isn't. Let's talk, let's look for solutions, let's analyse. If this conference offers ideas on how to better respond to the Russian aggression in Ukraine and other geopolitical turbulence, I'll gladly pass them on to my colleagues and partners," added Kacer.
Source: TASR
