New central 9 first, the latest headlines. Slovakias Prime Minister robert fico has been shot in what officials are calling an Assassination Attempt. Ukrainian Officials Say fighting is raging in the border town of vovchansk, where Russian Troops have taken up positions top us diplomat Antony Blinken has promised kyiv more arms will arrive soon. A rare sign of Division Within israels war cabinet defence minister yoav gallant criticizes the failure to agree a post war plan for gaza. Englands overcrowded prisons from next week some inmates will be released 70 days early. Good evening. In the last hour slovakias deputy Prime Minister has told the bbc that he believes Prime Minister robert fitzo will the bbc that he believes Prime Minister robert fico will survive the attempt on his life and while he is still in a critical condition, he is no longer in a life threatening situation. In the last couple of hours, slovakias minister of interior described todays shooting as an attack on democracy. As an attack on slovakia has always been known as a country of people who are tolerant, people who are accepting of other opinions and people who are always able to discuss. What happened today is the stigma which will haunt us for many years to come. But that is something that none of us think about at the moment. All we are focusing on is the condition of the Prime Minister robert fico. And we hope that he is Strong Enough to deal with this trauma. In the first place, i would like to assure the public that we will make everything that is in our power to investigate this heinous crime. We are doing this at the moment, as we speak. The initial information that we have clearly point to a political motivation and to a decision of the perpetrator shortly after the president ial election, and i would like to appeal to you, the journalists and the public, and all the politicians to stop spreading hate. I would like to appeal to all citizens who, after this unprecedented act, heinous act, still spread this hate, to stop it. The Prime Minister was shot five times during the attack mr fico was attending a Government Meeting in the town of handlova, north east of the capital, bratislava. After the meeting, he came out to meet well wishers who had gathered just outside. The shots were seemingly fired from within the crowd, Eye Witnesses say they saw the Prime Ministerfall, before he was quickly lifted by his arms, and bundled into a car by his security detail. The suspect, reported to be a 71 year old man, was quickly knocked to the ground, and arrested. The interior Ministry Said tonight the attack was politically motivated. Robert fico was shot five times during the attack and a warning, you will hear the gunshots in this clip. Gunshots. Mr fico has served four stints as slovakias Prime Minister, most recently returning to power after winning an election in september last year. He was previously forced out, in 2018, amid public outrage over the killing of a journalist who had been investigating ties between his associates and the calabrian mafia the ndrangata. But he staged an unlikely comeback, exploiting the frustration over the rising cost of living, as well as the waning support there has been in his country for the war in nearby ukraine. Since then he has faced widespread criticism for his pro russian rhetoric, and the recent attempts to extend State Control over the media. Let me start with what we have heard from the slovakian Prime Minister to read because there is very good news in a statement he had given, that robert fico is we hope out of danger. There is some very fierce rhetoric when it comes to the role played by the opposition. This rhetoric when it comes to the role played by the opposition. Rhetoric when it comes to the role played by the opposition. This is a real concern. Played by the opposition. This is a real concern, that played by the opposition. This is a real concern, that it played by the opposition. This is a real concern, that it would played by the opposition. This is a real concern, that it would appearj real concern, that it would appear to be quite premature to cast blame. As you were saying before, this really inflammatory rhetoric and when you look at all the statements that other Prime Ministers have been issuing, they are very controlled and measured statements wishing robert fico sbd recovery as soon as possible. Everyone recognises that this is a real concerning moment for democracy in europe and also around the eu because it comes at a tense time just weeks ahead of these parliamentary elections and he is, like it or not, alongside victor albarn of hungary, among the most pro russian and populist leaders that Eastern Europe had at the moment and there will be a real concern out that what will happen next . Will it become an even more febrile and polarised environment based on the type of rhetoric you have just had there in that bbc interview from the Prime Minister. I interview from the Prime Minister. I have the audio of it. In slovakia for e have the audio of it. In slovakia for e 12 have the audio of it. In slovakia for e 12 elections, the first in october for e 12 elections, the first in october we had parliamentary elections, so he did. We think that elections, so he did. We think that the elections, so he did. We think that the use elections, so he did. We think that the use of false narratives. They that the use of false narratives. They speak about false narrative that they they speak about false narrative that they want to leave the European Union, that they want to leave the European Union, join that they want to leave the European Union, join cooperation with russia and these union, join cooperation with russia and these are false narratives and of course and these are false narratives and of course people from the other side sometimes of course people from the other side sometimes can believe these narratives, they can become upset. You study narratives, they can become upset. You study the Security Situation across europe and in Central Europe. How have things shifted since the war in ukraine and how is it affecting the politics and some of these countries . Affecting the politics and some of these countries . Obviously there are many central these countries . Obviously there are many. Central countries these countries . Obviously there are many. Central countries like many. Central countries like slovakia, poland, the Czech Republic have an important voice in that respect. They also body ukraine. Slovakia has a border with ukraine to it also played a Critical Role in some of their war efforts there. So thatis some of their war efforts there. So that is also why slovakia then suddenly having Prime Minister robert fico coming in and shifting its Foreign Policy but also widely seen as a concern, not only domestically into the vacuum is also here in brussels at eu headquarters, nato headquarters. So it had a polarising stance, slovakian Foreign Policy, it wasnt seen as a very Good Development for the support for ukraine. , Good Development for the support for ukraine. , ,. ,. , Good Development for the support for ukraine. , ,. ,. , ukraine. There was supposed to be a meetin ukraine. There was supposed to be a meeting between ukraine. There was supposed to be a meeting between the ukraine. There was supposed to be a meeting between the czech ukraine. There was supposed to be a i meeting between the czech government and the slovakian government very recently and that meeting has been ongoing since 1992 since the two countries separated so for the czech president to cancel it over the meetings they were having with the russians, specifically in turkey, that shows the tensions that are there in that part of europe. It is there in that part of europe. It is interesting there in that part of europe. It is interesting when there in that part of europe. It is interesting when you mention what the prime interesting when you mention what the Prime Minister had said talking about the Prime Minister had said talking about false narratives, speaking of the most about false narratives, speaking of the most anti eu, pro russian. They have said the most anti eu, pro russian. They have said they are not pro russian and as have said they are not pro russian and as yet have said they are not pro russian and as yet as we have been hearing in their and as yet as we have been hearing in their policy the coverage of that election in their policy the coverage of that election victory was returned to power election victory was returned to power as election victory was returned to power as eurosceptic, focused on him saying power as eurosceptic, focused on him saying we power as eurosceptic, focused on him saying we will not send a bullet to ukraine saying we will not send a bullet to ukraine. Although he said private firms ukraine. Although he said private firms did ukraine. Although he said private firms did provide military support. That rang firms did provide military support. That rang alarm bells, but we need most that rang alarm bells, but we need most of that rang alarm bells, but we need most of all that rang alarm bells, but we need most of all the European Union and we have most of all the European Union and we have another country falling into that, listening to that antique ukraine, that, listening to that antique ukraine, at least in terms of providing ukraine, at least in terms of providing military Financial Support to ukraine. It is a front line state~ to ukraine. It is a front line state. Other Front Line States are there. State. Other Front Line States are there, living in palpable fear of there, living in palpable fear of the russian threat. You have a country the russian threat. You have a country like tobacco coming in and upsetting country like tobacco coming in and upsetting that important alliance. You can upsetting that important alliance. You can sort of see how this might play out from here because robert fico is not the only right leaning, i mean he is from the left, but right leaning position it was looked at the role of the media and judges and migration and the war in ukraine and migration and the war in ukraine and this might give succour to some of those parties who say, look they are trying to stamp out arguments popular in our country. Could we see a reaction in three weeks time of the European Election . The European Election . There are nuances, maloney the European Election . There are nuances, maloney in the European Election . There are nuances, maloney in italy, the European Election . There are nuances, maloney in italy, she i nuances, maloney in italy, she surprise people with her support for ukraine and nato, previously 80 suffered a lot of antique nato scepticism, ukraine scepticism in previous government and she actually hasnt played that the playbook although she is quite aligned with people like robert fico on immigration. Going back to robert fico in the future, you have to remember his ally is also about to take the helm of the presidency after winning a run off quite recently so we might see a more turbo charged reinvigorated further right and Mark EuroscepticUkraine Sceptic Slovakia when robert fico is back to full health. That will be a concern if that dovetails with the european parliamentary elections that it had to take place on the 6th ofjune. The elections that it had to take place on the 6th ofjune. On the 6th ofjune. The georgian president who on the 6th ofjune. The georgian president who spoke on the 6th ofjune. The georgian president who spoke to on the 6th ofjune. The georgian president who spoke to the on the 6th ofjune. The georgian| president who spoke to the bbc, on the 6th ofjune. The georgian president who spoke to the bbc, she said she sees the connections between their general polarisation there has been in slovakia and in her own country over the bar in ukraine to what has happened today. We cant link this specific incident to russia but is a kremlin in the way the kremlin is trying to pull at the seams of europe somewhere in the background here . Background here . There is no denying that there is background here . There is no denying that there is a background here . There is no denying that there is a shift background here . There is no denying that there is a shift to background here . There is no denying that there is a shift to the background here . There is no denying that there is a shift to the right that there is a shift to the right happening in the European Union these days and shift to populism, and this shift to populism and to the right or even extreme left or extreme right, both sides, is really due to the role of disinformation in our society, the role of growing polarisation and obviously it is for sure that the kremlin to a certain extent is playing in that field. Just look at some of the messages you can read on platforms like ex and social media plays a big role in that. There is also a lot of narratives that russia is trying to spread in europe but also transatlantic play to basically decrease the support for georgia, for georgian democracy, for the war in ukraine and bring to power leaders that are more friendly to the kremlin. Yes, we cannot deny this all plays a role and this will be reflected in the elections in the eu later injune. Be reflected in the elections in the eu later in june. Eu later in june. There is another echo at the eu later in june. There is another echo at the same eu later in june. There is another echo at the same kind eu later in june. There is another echo at the same kind of foreign | echo at the same kind of foreign agents echo at the same kind of foreign agents build that hasjust passed in the Georgian Parliament and brought out protest on the street, there is some out protest on the street, there is some legislation being introduced in slovakia some legislation being introduced in slovakia for Civil Society organisations to make it clear when they are organisations to make it clear when they are taking foreign funding. So whether they are taking foreign funding. So whether or they are taking foreign funding. So whether or not this is a hand of russia, whether or not this is a hand of russia, there is a footprint if you like of russia, there is a footprint if you like of that russia, there is a footprint if you like of that kind of what russia did to crack like of that kind of what russia did to crack on like of that kind of what russia did to crack on dissent with everyone having to crack on dissent with everyone having to to crack on dissent with everyone having to declare whether or not they were having to declare whether or not they were so called for an agent, we have seen they were so called for an agent, we have seen it they were so called for an agent, we have seen it in georgia and it is on the card have seen it in georgia and it is on the Card Insert Bracket as well. | the Card Insert Bracket as well. I am reminded, we had a Shooting Incident in prague not long ago, there was a huge amount of weapons and arms that are circulating in this part of Central Europe but it is extremely rare to have an attack on a european leader nonetheless. But in germany there have been three attacks, but in germany there have been three attacks, salt, not going to put three attacks, salt, not going to put three assaults in the last week in germany three assaults in the last week in germany so shalt was talking about shock germany so shalt was talking about shock he germany so shalt was talking about shock. He was mindful, we dont want to say shock. He was mindful, we dont want to say could shock. He was mindful, we dont want to say could happen there, but that rising to say could happen there, but that rising tension and polarisation is deep rising tension and polarisation is deep and rising tension and polarisation is deep and dangerous. We rising tension and polarisation is deep and dangerous. Rising tension and polarisation is deep and dangerous. We have olaf scholzs reaction. Translation ladies and gentlemen, we have just had their terrible news from slovakia. Prime minister robert fico has apparently been shot and is being treated in hospital. Such an attack is unbearable. Only a few months ago he visited us here in this very place. I wish him a good recovery from this cowardly attack. And i believe this is something on which there must be a very broad agreement. There must be no violence. Democracy is characterised by the non violent expression of differences of opinion and that mus