Events since the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine have shown that time and truth are on the side of democracy. “It is necessary to ensure that we are not only able to create a zone of democracy and freedom in Europe but also able to maintain it,” said Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová at the opening of this year’s GLOBSEC conference in Bratislava on Monday, May 29.
GLOBSEC’s Bratislava Forum is the international strategic conference on the frontlines of a newly divided world. The Forum has established itself as the most distinguished platform throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. This year’s 18th edition aims to highlight the CEE region’s increasing significance in ensuring global stability.
She went on to say in her opening remarks that “concerning the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine, we have managed to do more than just survive. Gas stocks in European reservoirs are at record highs, inflation is gradually falling, Ukraine remains defiant, and Russia controls less territory in Ukraine than it did a year ago”, stated Zuzana Čaputová.
According to her, “there are concrete reasons why we are in a better position today than we were a year ago. First of all, it is our unity regarding sanctions that had a real effect on the Russian economy. Russia now has fewer resources for the production and purchase of sophisticated weapons”.
Secondly, “it was our solidarity that improved our position across the EU, NATO, and our partners in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. NATO allies have increased their presence in the Eastern bloc”.
“Our solidarity with our partners also brings benefits to our own security. By assisting the Ukrainians, we are helping to keep the Russian aggressor as far away from our borders as possible. However, let’s remember that Ukraine was able to achieve this only at the cost of huge losses,” President Čaputová concluded.
