“Slovakia hints at retaliatory measures due to Ukraine’s refusal to transit gas – ZMI Slovakian Prime Minister Fico is shocked by Zelensky’s refusal to allow transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. Slovakia is considering possible retaliatory measures, including a review of aid supplies to Ukraine.”, — write on: unn.ua
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he was stunned by the refusal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to allow the streams after the two leaders spoke at a summit in Brussels. Zelensky stated that Ukraine will not transit gas of Russian origin unless he has guarantees that the Kremlin will not receive financial benefits while the war continues.
This leaves importers such as Slovakia with few options to keep the route open. The country has offered several alternatives, such as changing the owner of the gas before it reaches Ukrainian territory, but Zelensky dismissed those ideas as “games,” Fico told reporters late Thursday.
While Europe as a whole is unlikely to suffer much if Russian flows through Ukraine stop after the end of this year, Slovakia is among the few countries still dependent on these imports, and the country is warning of a possible financial hit.
Fico doubted whether Ukraine “has the right to harm the economic and national interests of an individual EU member state” under these circumstances. If Kyiv does not allow gas transit, he will consider over Christmas whether to take retaliatory measures against Ukraine, he said.
Slovakia currently sends electricity, humanitarian aid and private supplies of weapons, including ammunition, to Ukraine. The government led by Fico refused to send military aid from its own reserves, and also refused to support Ukraine’s membership in NATO. He also tries to maintain friendly relations with Moscow and criticizes the participation of the United States and most of the countries of the European Union in the war with the help of military support for Ukraine.
Slovakia’s prime minister said he wants to continue negotiations with the European Commission over the next three to four days in an attempt to find “arguments regarding Ukraine.” He also said that his discussions with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal were more constructive, and he was surprised by Zelensky’s “direct” words.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyi said on Thursday that he is aware of Slovakia’s financial problems, but added that “it’s a little embarrassing to talk about money because we’re losing people.”