BRATISLAVA: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose pro-Russian views have put him at odds with allies, sought to deepen cooperation in energy, railway links and grain transport with war-hit neighbor Ukraine on Thursday.
After a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, Fico said Slovakia wanted to be a “good, friendly” neighbor to Ukraine.
Fico has led a shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy since coming to power last October, halting state military aid to Kyiv and opening communication channels with Moscow, even as the EU has sought to isolate Russia’s government.
Yet Fico has been keen to keep business ties with Kyiv, including continuing to allow commercial arms deals to go ahead.
“Ukraine needs help, and Ukraine needs to be shown solidarity,” Fico said in broadcast remarks alongside Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal after meeting in eastern Slovakia.
“There can of course be different opinions or views on that help or solidarity.”
Previous Slovak administrations had been staunch backers of Kyiv after Russia’s invasion in 2022, providing fighter jets and air defense systems, among other equipment. Fico reiterated on Thursday that Slovakia would continue allowing commercial deals for military supplies despite stopping state military aid.
He said the countries agreed that an old wide-gauge freight rail link from Slovakia’s second biggest city of Kosice should begin passenger service to Kyiv.
They will also modernize the main road border crossing and boost cross-border electricity transmission networks in the coming years.
Fico said Slovakia will continue to provide a corridor for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, while Shmyhal said they agreed to work on lifting restrictions on Ukrainian products which Slovakia and other countries put in place to protect domestic markets.
“We are aware that each of our states has its own national interests, its own priorities, which sometimes may not coincide,” Shmyhal said. “But at the same time we have absolutely good will and a pragmatic attitude.”
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Slovakia’s pro-Russia PM deepens energy and transport ties to Ukraine
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Slovakia’s pro-Russia PM deepens energy and transport ties to Ukraine
- After a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, Fico said Slovakia wanted to be a “good, friendly” neighbor to Ukraine
- Fico has been keen to keep business ties with Kyiv, including continuing to allow commercial arms deals to go ahead
UK Police probe pepper spray assault at Heathrow Airport car park
- Armed officers arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of assault after responding to the scene
- Passengers complained about having missed flights due to public transport disruption in the area
LONDON: UK police were probing on Sunday an assault involving pepper spray at a Heathrow Airport car park that disrupted travel and left 21 people, including a three-year-old girl, needing medical treatment.
In a depature from an earlier account of the incident at Terminal 3’s multi-story car park, London’s Metropolitan Police said it now appeared to have stemmed from a suitcase robbery by people known to each other.
Commander Peter Stevens, who had previously characterised it as an argument that escalated into a fight, said investigators had pieced together the chaotic chain of events after reviewing CCTV and interviewing witnesses.
“At this stage, it’s understood that a woman was robbed of her suitcase by a group of four men, who sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray in her direction,” he added.
“This occurred within a car park lift, with those in the lift and surrounding area affected by the spray.
“Our officers are working to determine the full circumstances around what happened but we do believe this to be an isolated incident with those directly involved known to each other.”
Armed officers arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of assault after responding to the scene shortly after 8am (0800 GMT).
“He remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing to locate further suspects,” police said in an update.
Emergency responders treated 21 patients, with five taken to hospital, the London Ambulance Service said.
The three-year-old received treatment at the scene, with all the injuries “not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening,” according to police.
Firefighters provided “specialist assistance” at the scene, London’s Fire Brigade said.
Terminal 3 at Europe’s busiest airport remained open throughout, but the incident prompted severe traffic and public transport disruption in the area, according to officials and reports.
Passengers complained about having missed flights due to its impact.
“We were literally stuck for an hour-and-a-half,” Jayesh Patel, whose family were headed to the airport for a flight to India, told AFP.
“We ran to the gate, and we missed the check-in by three minutes, and we were turned away.
“So we’re gonna have to drive 100 miles back home.”
In a depature from an earlier account of the incident at Terminal 3’s multi-story car park, London’s Metropolitan Police said it now appeared to have stemmed from a suitcase robbery by people known to each other.
Commander Peter Stevens, who had previously characterised it as an argument that escalated into a fight, said investigators had pieced together the chaotic chain of events after reviewing CCTV and interviewing witnesses.
“At this stage, it’s understood that a woman was robbed of her suitcase by a group of four men, who sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray in her direction,” he added.
“This occurred within a car park lift, with those in the lift and surrounding area affected by the spray.
“Our officers are working to determine the full circumstances around what happened but we do believe this to be an isolated incident with those directly involved known to each other.”
Armed officers arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of assault after responding to the scene shortly after 8am (0800 GMT).
“He remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing to locate further suspects,” police said in an update.
Emergency responders treated 21 patients, with five taken to hospital, the London Ambulance Service said.
The three-year-old received treatment at the scene, with all the injuries “not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening,” according to police.
Firefighters provided “specialist assistance” at the scene, London’s Fire Brigade said.
Terminal 3 at Europe’s busiest airport remained open throughout, but the incident prompted severe traffic and public transport disruption in the area, according to officials and reports.
Passengers complained about having missed flights due to its impact.
“We were literally stuck for an hour-and-a-half,” Jayesh Patel, whose family were headed to the airport for a flight to India, told AFP.
“We ran to the gate, and we missed the check-in by three minutes, and we were turned away.
“So we’re gonna have to drive 100 miles back home.”
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