04:28Mandatory credit: NATO TV
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini claimed that his own country was 'completely not protected' - after previous air defence systems 'went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine' - during his meeting with outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Friday.
"We delivered all our fighter jets MiG29 [to Ukraine] so in this moment the airspace is protected by the forces from Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary which we are thankful for but, in this moment, there is not on our territory any anti-missile systems," he outlined.
"There were in the past two Patriots and one Mamba from Italy but step-by-step all went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine so in this moment it's for Slovakia crucial to find a solution how to defend our airspace," he added. "It will not be ok if the eastern flank and this one country at the eastern border of NATO and even a country which has a border with our neighbour Ukraine is in this moment completely not protected."
Pellegrini also said that 'the world has significantly changed since our last meeting in 2018' but that Slovakia remained a 'reliable' ally.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg welcomed Slovakia's support for the 'Czech-led ammunition initiative' for Ukraine and its backing for Kiev's 'territorial integrity and sovereignty'.
Pellegrini, a sceptic of Western involvement in Ukraine, defeated pro-Western liberal candidate and former minister for foreign affairs Ivan Korczok, who campaigned for more military and financial aid for Kiev, in April.
Pellegrini obtained 53 percent of the vote, while Korczok on 46 percent. During his victory rally, Pellegrini urged fighting in Ukraine to be halted as soon as possible.
'Our own airspace is not protected' - Slovak President Pellegrini warns NATO chief after previous air defences sent 'maybe to Ukraine'
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini claimed that his own country was 'completely not protected' - after previous air defence systems 'went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine' - during his meeting with outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Friday.
"We delivered all our fighter jets MiG29 [to Ukraine] so in this moment the airspace is protected by the forces from Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary which we are thankful for but, in this moment, there is not on our territory any anti-missile systems," he outlined.
"There were in the past two Patriots and one Mamba from Italy but step-by-step all went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine so in this moment it's for Slovakia crucial to find a solution how to defend our airspace," he added. "It will not be ok if the eastern flank and this one country at the eastern border of NATO and even a country which has a border with our neighbour Ukraine is in this moment completely not protected."
Pellegrini also said that 'the world has significantly changed since our last meeting in 2018' but that Slovakia remained a 'reliable' ally.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg welcomed Slovakia's support for the 'Czech-led ammunition initiative' for Ukraine and its backing for Kiev's 'territorial integrity and sovereignty'.
Pellegrini, a sceptic of Western involvement in Ukraine, defeated pro-Western liberal candidate and former minister for foreign affairs Ivan Korczok, who campaigned for more military and financial aid for Kiev, in April.
Pellegrini obtained 53 percent of the vote, while Korczok on 46 percent. During his victory rally, Pellegrini urged fighting in Ukraine to be halted as soon as possible.
Mandatory credit: NATO TV
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini claimed that his own country was 'completely not protected' - after previous air defence systems 'went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine' - during his meeting with outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Friday.
"We delivered all our fighter jets MiG29 [to Ukraine] so in this moment the airspace is protected by the forces from Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary which we are thankful for but, in this moment, there is not on our territory any anti-missile systems," he outlined.
"There were in the past two Patriots and one Mamba from Italy but step-by-step all went somewhere, maybe all to Ukraine so in this moment it's for Slovakia crucial to find a solution how to defend our airspace," he added. "It will not be ok if the eastern flank and this one country at the eastern border of NATO and even a country which has a border with our neighbour Ukraine is in this moment completely not protected."
Pellegrini also said that 'the world has significantly changed since our last meeting in 2018' but that Slovakia remained a 'reliable' ally.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg welcomed Slovakia's support for the 'Czech-led ammunition initiative' for Ukraine and its backing for Kiev's 'territorial integrity and sovereignty'.
Pellegrini, a sceptic of Western involvement in Ukraine, defeated pro-Western liberal candidate and former minister for foreign affairs Ivan Korczok, who campaigned for more military and financial aid for Kiev, in April.
Pellegrini obtained 53 percent of the vote, while Korczok on 46 percent. During his victory rally, Pellegrini urged fighting in Ukraine to be halted as soon as possible.