Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the ambassador. On behalf of members, we are grateful for his contributions and helping us to develop a deeper understanding of the situation. We will leave him with the final word. He might attempt an answer on whether he sees a further escalation of the aggression in non-NATO aligned countries. It is a speculative question, but that is a genuine fear. Will the aggression grow or continue?

As a committee, we would like to acknowledge the role of Slovakia in providing the solidarity that is so evident against the backdrop of courage and fortitude on behalf of the Ukrainian people and the nightmare they are enduring. I would like to acknowledge the solidarity of the ambassador's citizens in facing such adversity. There is hope in his contribution today, such as his call for equality, like mindedness and working with people. He made reference to the parameters of the European Union in terms of equality and a level playing field, which is what we are looking for.

We are thankful for his contribution and message of hope. However, as Deputy Harkin pointed out we have an immediate issue to deal with here and we are with the ambassador all of the way on that. I ask for an attempted answer, having acknowledged his message of hope. Is there a very real concern about a further escalation in non-NATO aligned countries?