MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 6 September 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 5 September): BRATISLAVA - Slovakia has lodged a protest against attacks targeting areas in the vicinity of diplomatic premises or civilian infrastructure and has called on the Russian Federation to refrain from actions that could endanger the safety of civilians, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Saturday, TASR has learnt from the ministry's communications department. In connection with Friday's (4 September) Russian attack in Ukraine near the Slovak diplomatic mission, the ministry summoned the Russian ambassador. "The Ministry condemned the Russian attack by a jet-powered drone on the building of the Ukrainian security service located near the consular section of the Slovak Embassy in Kiev. The Slovak diplomatic mission uses these premises to a limited extent for security reasons, and therefore no one was present there," pointed out the Foreign Affairs Ministry. According to the communications department, Blanar is appealing to both sides in the conflict to avoid further escalation "and thereby undermining any efforts towards a peaceful solution". Blanar condemned already on Friday the Russian attack using a jet-powered drone on the building of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on Volodymyrska Street in Kiev, which is located near the consular section of the Slovak Embassy. In connection with the attack, he stated that he had instructed that the Russian ambassador in Bratislava should be summoned. BRATISLAVA - Together with Ukraine, the West should step up its efforts to communicate with Russia, President Peter Pellegrini stated on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), adding that dialogue and the pursuit of a diplomatic solution are crucial. According to the head of state, the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine can only be resolved through diplomacy. "I understand that the aim of strengthening Ukraine - and we discuss this at length at meetings of presidents from across Western Europe - is for Ukraine to sit down at the negotiating table as an equal partner to Russia. ... I also understand Ukraine's deep strikes into Russian territory, intended to demonstrate that it's capable of inflicting significant damage on Russian infrastructure as well," he said, noting, however, that, on the other hand, the war is beginning to spill over the borders. He pointed out that some attacks will be organised directly from Russia. In this context, Pellegrini reiterated his position that both the state and companies manufacturing military equipment or ammunition must take appropriate measures. He explained that he had also discussed the matter with Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD). BRATISLAVA - Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), President Peter Pellegrini stated that Slovakia would benefit from a grand coalition between the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) and the ruling Smer-SD. The head of state went on to say that this would require a strong leader, however. According to him, the election results could lead to a stalemate, and the current parties across the political spectrum won't be able to form a governing coalition. He expects the political atmosphere to gradually become more tense in the year leading up to the elections. "For that, you need a mature leader on both sides who can set aside their own ego. Someone who can put aside perhaps everything that has been said so far between the individual leaders and members of these political parties," he stated. Pellegrini also explained that, for the time being, the replacement of the environment minister [Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee)] is the only announced change in the current cabinet. He expects that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is currently discussing this matter with SNS leader Andrej Danko. He would advise the prime minister to find a different candidate for the new minister than incumbent Environment Ministry State Secretary Filip Kuffa. Pellegrini also regards the issue of drought and climate change as a matter for the president, pointing out that political parties across the political spectrum should take an interest in this issue and work together to find solutions. BRATISLAVA - Chairman of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party Michal Simecka rejects the idea of a government including the coalition Smer-SD party, describing a statement by President Peter Pellegrini as absurd, TASR has learnt from Simecka's post on social media. Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), the head of state said that a broad coalition spanning the political spectrum would benefit Slovakia. "Smer is the biggest obstacle to a better life in Slovakia. It's been in power for 16 years and, because of it, our people's standard of living, their health and their safety are deteriorating; we're plummeting to the very bottom of practically every European Union ranking. Slovakia needs change for the better. The first step towards this change is to defeat Smer in the 2027 election and send this party into political retirement. Only then will there be real hope and a vision for a better life for the people of Slovakia," he stressed. am