Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday to discuss the future of Russian gas supplies to Slovakia. The meeting comes as Ukraine plans to halt the transit of Russian gas through its territory starting January 1, 2025.
Fico stated that the discussion was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent announcement at a European Union summit in Brussels, where Zelenskyy expressed opposition to any transit of gas through Ukraine to Slovakia. With the current contract set to expire at the end of 2024, Fico highlighted the urgency of securing energy supplies for his country.
According to Fico, President Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue supplying gas to Slovakia and other Western countries. However, given Ukraine’s stance, Fico acknowledged that it would be practically impossible to continue gas transit through Ukraine after the contract expires.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine will stop the transit of Russian gas from January 1, 2025. He mentioned that resumption would only be possible at the request of the European Commission and if Ukraine transports non-Russian gas.
Slovakia has informed top EU officials about the meeting and its purpose, emphasizing the importance of energy security. Ukraine has historically been a key route for Russian gas supplies to Europe, and changes to this transit could have significant implications for the region’s energy landscape.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
