MARK ALMOND: Not since 1914 has a political assassination been attempted at such a delicate time in...

Slovakia might seem a small, rather insignificant country, but it stands at the political crossroads of Europe – a place where ancient conflicts between East and West are laid bare.

Slovakia's PM Robert Fico is fighting for his life in hospital following an assassination attempt on WednesdayVideo footage obtained by AFPTV shows security personnel carrying PM Fico towards a vehicle after he was shot in Handlova Much of Slovakia's arsenal goes back to Soviet-era designs – just like Ukraine's. And that has meant that Slovak stocks of everything from bullets and tank rounds to spare parts for fighter jets fit seamlessly into what Ukrainians need.

Now Ukraine and its allies fear that Fico is hoping to back Kyiv into a corner – by blocking EU aid and forcing the Ukrainians to accept the demands of the Kremlin. But like many young and ambitious people 40 years ago, he quickly dumped the party and set off on his own post-Communist odyssey, hitting on the idea of a social democrat-style party called Smer – or 'Direction' – 25 years ago. Popular opinion in Slovakia has been changing, however, and Fico is a populist.

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