President Pellegrini warns against military escalation at Dukla commemorations

During commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the Carpathian-Dukla Operation, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini warned that increasing military armament and escalating provocations will not ease tensions but will instead lead to further escalation. He noted that the current atmosphere between NATO and Russia is beginning to resemble the periods preceding major historical world conflicts.

Pellegrini emphasized the need for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine, expressing regret that the international community’s primary response has been to provide more weapons. He stated that while collective security is logical for smaller nations, arms should be a last resort only after diplomacy has failed.

In a separate context regarding historical memory, a new statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev was unveiled near the Dukla Pass in Kružlová. The unveiling was attended by various officials, including Minister Richard Takáč and MEP Ľuboš Blaha, highlighting ongoing political debates in Slovakia regarding the interpretation of Soviet-era history and its relation to current relations with Russia.