As the gas transit dispute escalates, Ukraine's Zelenskiy lashes out at Slovak Prime Minister Fico

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico of opening a second energy front against Ukraine at the behest of Russia as the dispute over gas transit between the two countries intensified.

Ukraine currently pumps Russian gas to Slovakia and other European countries through its territory. However, the current transit agreement - which was signed before Moscow invaded Ukraine - will expire at the end this year.

Fico, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week in Moscow, said that Slovakia would be considering reciprocal measures to Ukraine, such as stopping backup electricity supplies, if Kyiv stopped the gas transit on January 1.

Zelenskiy, a writer on the social media platform X, wrote: "It seems that Putin gave Fico orders to open the Second Energy Front against Ukraine in the interests of the Slovak People."

Slovakia is adamant that it will continue to receive Russian gas via Ukraine. It says alternative routes would increase costs and impact its own transit operations. This could cost 500 million euro in fees.

Ukraine says it won't sign any new gas transit agreement with Moscow because of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Since Russia started targeting Ukraine's power grid late in 2022, destroying or damaging much of the non-nuclear capacity of the country, Ukraine has had to import electricity.

Zelenskiy stated that Slovakia was responsible for 19% (of Ukraine's) power imports and that Ukraine worked with its European Union neighbors to boost the supply.

Fico, he said, must adhere to the common European rules. He added that if Slovakia cut off power supplies to Ukraine it would cost them $200 million per year.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that Fico is siding with Putin, making "senseless" threats to cut off Ukraine’s power imports.

Fico, who took office in 2023 and has been a leading opponent of EU military aid to Ukraine since then, is one of the EU’s most vocal opponents.

Fico stated that after his meeting in Moscow with Putin, Russia had confirmed its willingness to continue supplying gas to Slovakia. However, this would be "practically impossible" when the transit agreement expires. (Reporting and editing by Alison Williams, Helen Popper and Max Hunder)

(source: Reuters)