MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 23 August 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 22 August): BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST - The Ukrainian army has attacked the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure on the Russian territory three times in nine days and supplies via this pipeline, which also transports oil to Slovakia and Hungary, have thus been suspended, and the Slovak and Hungarian Foreign Affairs Ministers, Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) and Peter Szijjarto, respectively, have sent a joint open letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen on Friday concerning this. The two foreign ministers called on the European Commission (EC) to immediately ensure adherence to commitments related to the security of energy supplies of EU-member states, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department has informed TASR. The ministers reminded Kallas and Jorgensen of the fact that the EC in its resolution from 27 January 2025 stated that the integrity of energy infrastructure supplying EU-member states is a matter of security for the whole Union. In this regard, the Commission called on all third countries to respect this. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia is among the countries that are trying to assist Ukraine in all areas, apart from directly supplying weapons at the state level, President Peter Pellegrini posted on a social network on Friday, expressing his hope that Ukrainian leaders will realise this and that attacks by the Ukrainian army, such as those on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which threaten the stability of the Slovak economy, won't be part of their military activities. "I very much hope that the negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine will reach a stage at which there will be a ceasefire, and I believe that the peace efforts of US President Donald Trump and his partners will soon bring the desired result," wrote Pellegrini. The Slovak head of state also praised Trump's firm and dissenting stance on the Ukrainian attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Pellegrini pointed out that the people of Slovakia and the Slovak economy depended on this energy infrastructure. He also expects support from his partners in the European Union. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia will consider the possibility of legal action if it doesn't receive an exemption or isn't compensated for the termination of natural gas imports from Russia, according to a reasoned opinion on non-compliance of the draft EU regulation on the phasing-out of natural gas imports from Russia with the principle of subsidiarity, which was approved with comments by the government at its meeting on Friday. The document was submitted to the cabinet session by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "The government instructs the justice minister [Boris Susko (Smer-SD)] to ensure, by 25 October 2025, in cooperation with the foreign affairs minister [Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD)] and the economy minister [Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD)], that if the negotiations don't lead to obtaining exemptions or appropriate binding compensation, that an analysis of the options for filing a lawsuit on the grounds of violation of the principle of subsidiarity by the EU regulation in question is drawn up," reads the government resolution. BRATISLAVA - A new air route between Bratislava and Kosice will be served by Wizz Air, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) revealed at a news conference on Friday, adding that the first flight should take place as early as this November. The flights will be operated with Airbus A321/A32O aircraft with a capacity of 230 seats. The subsidy for the route will amount to €5.2 million instead of the originally estimated €9 million. According to Raz, there were five applicants in the tender, two of which eventually submitted bids. "First of all, I would like to announce to you that the winning carrier, which submitted the best bid for this air route, is Wizz Air. The aircraft that will be used for the route is an Airbus with a capacity of some 230 seats. The first flight is expected in November 2025," said Raz. BRATISLAVA - Responding to the statement by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) concerning its analysis of the composition of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday (21 August), Government Proxy for Investigating the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic Peter Kotlar told TASR that he wants this matter to be decided by the judiciary. He noted that the two sides will at some point be sitting in front of a prosecutor: "An expert from a certified laboratory, and scientists without an expert's seal from a non-certified SAV workplace." "I won't comment further. I intuitively perceive the work of the police, prosecution and courts from my own perspective. Truth is self-standing, it does not need help. Time will tell," stated Kotlar. Back in March, Kotlar submitted an expert report on the analysis of mRNA vaccines used in Slovakia to Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka. According to Kotlar, his analysis confirmed that all tested vaccine batches are capable of altering human DNA, which he claims may lead to the development of several serious diseases. As TASR learnt from SAV on Thursday (21 August), an analysis of the composition of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has clearly shown that these vaccines contain only trace amounts of DNA molecules, far below the maximum level set. Statements and publications claiming high levels of DNA, including those that prompted the SAV analysis, are based on technically incorrect procedures and/or misinterpreted results. Such claims are false and misleading, according to a SAV statement sent by Andrea Nozdrovicka from the academy to TASR. am