At an emergency summit of four of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, known as the Visegrad Four, they were preparing for the worst.

Prime ministers of the four members: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia met in Budapest. They believe the crisis could escalate right on their doorsteps.

The role extremist groups may be playing is a particular worry.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on Europe as a community to help Ukraine. He said, “both its government and its opposition need to find a common standpoint, to solve the conflict and to retreat from any dramatic scenario.”

His Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban announced that he had already ordered the establishment of a special operations unit to prepare his country for any situation.

Reporting for euronews in Budapest, Andrea Hajagos said:

“What is happening in Ukraine is very important to all Visegrad Countries. Nothing demonstrates this more than the Czech PM’s rapid arrival here only a few hours after he was sworn into office.”