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Brussels/Bratislava – We can stop all humanitarian aid to Ukraine, decide on a significant reduction or complete withdrawal of benefits for Ukrainian military refugees in Slovakia, or halt electricity supplies in emergency situations. At the political level, the Slovak Republic can use the right to veto multiple decisions in the EU. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) suggested on Thursday in Brussels after talks with representatives of the European Commission (EC) possible reciprocal measures against Kyiv for stopping the transit of Russian natural gas, reports TASR special correspondent.
However, according to the prime minister, the Slovak Republic will take these steps only if there are no other options. In his words, it is an opportunity to show how a leader of a sovereign country should behave.
The Prime Minister stressed that negotiations with the Ukrainian side were close to agreement. “On a technical level, the Ukrainian side was also prepared for many possibilities,” he added. Therefore, he was surprised by the announcement of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, which was first formulated at the European Council meeting, where he categorically rejected any gas transit through the territory of Ukraine.
Fico also announced at a press conference that a group is being immediately set up to address the current dispute, which will include representatives from Slovakia, the European Commission (EC), and likely Ukraine. “It is a serious problem and the Energy Commissioner Dan Jörgensen also realizes it,” said the Prime Minister, with whom the Slovak governmental delegation held talks. He appreciated the Thursday’s “constructive negotiations” with the EC, which he says has a great interest in resolving the issue.
Fico also referred to a letter sent to the EC, according to which there are allegedly no legal or sanction obstacles that would threaten the transit of Russian gas to Europe. He reiterated that the decision of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is purely political and will have a major impact on increased gas prices and the competitiveness of the EU.
The original negotiations were supposed to take place in Brussels on Tuesday with the participation of the Ukrainian delegation. However, according to a statement from the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic, the European Commission canceled them due to the absence of the Ukrainian side and rescheduled them for Thursday.
At the end of 2024, the agreement on the transit of Russian natural gas through the territory of Ukraine expired. Kyiv decided not to extend the agreement. Fico warned several times about the loss of half a billion euros annually for Slovakia, and for the European Union as a whole, he estimated the financial burden at 60 to 70 billion euros. (January 9)
“It is a serious problem and the Energy Commissioner Dan Jörgensen also realizes it.” Robert Fico
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