Slovak President warns arms buildup fuels tension, not peace

At a ceremony in Vysny Komárnik marking the 82nd anniversary of the Dukla Pass breakthrough, President Peter Pellegrini warned that a surge in armaments and provocations cannot lower tension but will only intensify it. He referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine, where he said tens of thousands of young lives are lost each month on both sides, drawing a parallel to the massive loss of youth at Dukla. Pellegrini emphasized that the sacrifices made at Dukla obligate Europe to seek a peaceful resolution to the five-year Ukrainian conflict, as peace is essential for survival.

He noted that the warring parties cannot even agree on a cease-fire to resume diplomatic talks. The president also observed that recent weeks have seen more open discussion of a potential NATO-Russia confrontation, with diplomatic language becoming increasingly sharp, reminiscent of the pre-World War period. He concluded that fears surrounding arms buildups are justified, as they only deepen the crisis.