President Čaputová welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Košice on Wednesday 27 April 2022. 

The presidents discussed the current situation in connection to the war in Ukraine. “We last met only eight months ago in Bratislava, but the world has essentially changed since that. The brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced us to re-evaluate many of our standpoints, a process which is also taking place in Germany. We agree that it is crucial to maintain the unity and solidarity of the European Union and North Atlantic Alliance and in increasing the pressure on the Russian regime.  This also means reducing our dependence on Russian energy resources. It is a difficult, but necessary step, which is also shown by the stopping of the gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria.”  

The president considers the granting of Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country as direct assistance. “I explained to the German president how the launching of the accession process was an important motivation for us. I am convinced that Ukraine should receive this status as soon as possible.  It would be a great impulse for Ukrainians who are battling against tremendous military odds to defend freedom and democracy.” 

According to the president, this meeting in Košice opened a new chapter in Slovak-German relations which are already so intense, that we consider each other to be “neighbouring states”, although we do not share any borders. "I am glad that we can open this chapter with President Steinmeier. Personally speaking, Frank is one of my closest foreign leaders and we are in regular contact. Germany has been a key partner for Slovakia for a long period of time, but the relations between our countries have recently risen to a new and unprecedented level. We live in a new era, a period when we are again discovering first hand solidarity and the power of unity as well as the importance of humanity and courage.”