2024-12-16 21:41 update: 2024-12-16, 21:44
Photo PAP/Jarek Praszkiewicz
The heads of state of the Visegrad Group (V4), a format of regional cooperation between Warsaw, Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest, have met to discuss military security and international problems, particularly those in Ukraine.
The presidents of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary - Peter Pellegrini, Petr Pavel and Tamas Sulyok, respectively - convened in the southern Polish mountain resort of Wisla on Monday, at the invitation of Polish President Andrzej Duda.
After the meeting, Duda said that all attendees agreed that any discussions about the end of Russia's aggression on Ukraine and what would happen after the cessation of hostilities must involve Ukraine.
According to Pellegrini, the V4 was beginning to adopt a pragmatic approach to the situation in Ukraine. He said that bloodshed must be stopped as soon as possible, and Russia and Ukraine should be "nudged" to enter into negotiations.
Sulyok seconded his opinion. "I greatly hope that in the coming year, the gunfire in Ukraine will cease," he said, adding that there were other dangers lurking. "We must do everything to stop the conflict in the Middle East so that it will not spill over."
The presidents also spoke about Europe assuming more responsibility for its own security in light of expected pressure from the US President-elect Donald Trump. "This will require increased spending on defence, but I would call it an investment in our future," said Pavel.
The V4 also spoke about improving crisis management, particularly in the context of this year's floods that affected the region. To enhance cooperation in this area, Duda proposed forming a group of experts from the V4 countries, which would devise a system facilitating the exchange of alerts and information and cooperation between services.
This is the last V4 summit hosted by Duda whose term of office ends in August 2025.
The V4 was set up on February 15, 1991. The rotational presidency lasts for one year and is then passed on to another member state. However, the cooperation has chilled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and Hungary's opposition to military support for the invaded nation. (PAP)
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