MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 17 August 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 16 August): BRATISLAVA - The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin officially launched the standardisation of relations between the United States and the Russian Federation, Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) posted on a social network on Saturday. "The presidents have launched a vital process in Alaska. It is a process that is also a major trap for the European Union. The upcoming days will show whether the major players in the Union will support this process and lead the Ukrainian conflict to a fast end, or the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of financial, political or military aid will continue," stated Fico. The premier thinks that the war in Ukraine has its historical roots. He stressed the need to talk about security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia. According to him, the form and course of the summit in Alaska fully fit into Slovakia's sovereign foreign policy oriented towards "all four cardinal directions". "I believe that I will be able to present this position also during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese president and other statesmen, whom I will meet on September 3 in Beijing on the occasion of the end of WWII celebrations," he noted. BRATISLAVA - I view the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a significant international step on the path to seeking lasting and sustainable peace in Ukraine, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said on Saturday in reaction to Friday's summit in Alaska. "Although it failed to bring concrete results, I find it most important that it took place and opened the door to further negotiations, including with the direct participation of Ukraine. The atmosphere of mutual respect in which the presidential summit was held is a good prerequisite for the talks to continue and lead to the most important goal, which is to end the war in Ukraine, to stop the killing and suffering of innocent victims," stated Pellegrini. BRATISLAVA - Every step towards a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine is important, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) stated in response to the summit in Alaska, adding it was positive that US President Donald Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European allies about the course of the summit, TASR was informed by Parliament's communications department on Saturday. "Maintaining balance during communication is key to finding a just and sustainable solution. I will be closely monitoring further developments and I believe that diplomatic efforts will translate into concrete steps aimed at ending the aggression and restoring lasting peace," Rasi noted. BRATISLAVA - Low-cost airline Wizz Air will open a base at M.R. Stefanik's airport in Bratislava by placing two Airbus A321neo aircraft there and launching 12 new air routes from Bratislava to Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and Norway in the winter season, Bratislava airport director Dusan Novota told a news conference earlier this week with Wizz Air representatives in attendance. Novota added that this step will increase the number of passengers handled by some 1 million annually. "The opening of a Wizz Air base is a historic milestone for M.R. Stefanik Airport. This biggest expansion of air routes that we have managed to agree with an airline is a great success and will bring a significant increase in the number of passengers from the current 2 million to 3 million annually in the coming years," said Novota. ko