Welcome to the programme. We begin in beijing, where russias president Vladimir Putin has just landed. Hes set to meet his chinese Counterpart Xijinping later. Its mr putins second trip to china in just over six months, perhaps underlining the importance to moscow of the relationship after the unprecedented sanctions its facing as a result of the war in ukraine. Nonetheless, the Chinese Government seems to be looking forward to the summit. China and russia regarding cover as comprehensive, critical and cooperative partners in the era and relationships have continued to develop healthily with leaders of the two countries maintaining close contacts. Lets assess how close that relationship is. Mr putins trip to beijing is his first outside of russia since he was sworn in for a new six year term as president last week. The two leaders have met on a fairly frequent basis in the last few years and seem to get on quite well. In 2019 mr xi went to russia on a state visit, referring to mr putin
Is in custody. Lets go live to the slovak capital, bratislava, and our correspondent, sarah rainsford. Sarah, bring us up to date with the latest we know about the condition of the Prime Minister this morning. Well, we have heard from the director of the hospital where mr fico is being treated, where he received Emergency Care overnight and yesterday afternoon and evening. He was in surgery for some five hours. That was Emergency Surgery after he received three gunshot wounds. We understand that includes wins to his stomach and to his arm. So extremely and serious injuries. Long, long surgery, five hours of surgery, multiple wounds. Now the defence minister has said his condition has stabilised and that he is no longer in a life threatening condition, but he is still in Critical Care in that hospital 100 or so miles from where we are here in bratislava. A dramatic attack, of course. You will have seen those pictures as robert fico came out of his government meeting, went out to meet sm
Of surgery to save his life following an apparent assassination attempt. Local media reported that the Prime Minister had regained consciousness. The deputy Prime Minister, tomas taraba, told the bbc that the operation had gone well and he expected mr fico to survive. The Prime Minister was shot several times as he was leaving a Government Meeting in what the Interior Minister described as a politically motivated attack. The deputy Prime Minister of slovakia accused opposition parties of using false narratives to paint the Prime Minister almost as a monster. In sliver you, we won two elections. In october we had parliamentary elections, so we have stabilised support of the public. In slavonic. Also international politics, speak about a false narrative that we want to leave the European Union and join the cooperation with russia and i dont want these false narratives and of course people from the other side lost the election sometimes, they believe in these narratives, they can become a
That he is not in a life threatening situation. In slovakia we won two elections, the president ial one in october and we had parliamentary elections, so our government has pretty stabile and strong support in the public but after what he did in the political arena, his presence in slovakia, we think the opposition uses false narratives often and in International Politics about our government, they speak of false narratives that we want to leave the european union, that we want to join the cooperation with russia. And all these false narratives. And, of course, people from the other side who lost in the elections sometimes believe these narratives, and they can become a little bit, lets say, upset. The attack took place in the central town of handlova. Our correspondent bethany bell is in the capital bratislava with more on the suspect, and how the attack played out. This was the moment a european leader was shot. Gunshots. As he greeted members of the public in front of a local commun
Emmanuel macron condemned to be but appears to be the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of slovakia. Who did it and why, tonight we will have the latest. Good evening. Slovakias Prime Minister robert fico is said to be fighting for his life after being shot multiple times in an assassination attempt. Mr fico had been attending a government meeting. As he spoke to crowds afterwards he was shot five times, before being bundled into a car by security personnel. He has been in surgery for three and a half hours. The suspect has been detained by police. Slovak ministers have said the attack was politically motivated. It took place in the Central Slovakia town of handlova. Slovakia borders ukraine, and mr fico has been a divisive figure considered by some as authoritarian and russia leaning. Tonight well hear from our Europe Editor katya adler in brussels on the significance of this attack on a European Leader, but first bethany bell is in slovakia. Bethany . There is a real sens