BRATISLAVA – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Thursday that Europe faces what he described as an unprecedented risk of a wider military conflict as tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine intensify.
Speaking in Presov, Fico said the situation had “never been as serious and tense” in terms of the possibility of a pan-European conflict. He said Slovakia remains committed to NATO but that he would seek to prevent the country from being drawn directly into war.
Fico said the conflict in Ukraine had “spiralled out of control” and voiced concern about increasingly strong military rhetoric across Europe. He also warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure and the prospect of larger military operations could further escalate tensions.
His remarks came ahead of a visit to Ukraine on Friday, where he is due to attend a conference with other European Union leaders and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi.
Fico urged European leaders not to take peace for granted, warning that the continent’s security situation could deteriorate quickly.
