Slovakia to Retaliate Against Ukraine for Cutting Off Russian Gas
PM Robert Fico, Jan. 2, 2025. X/ @ActualidadRT
January 3, 2025 Hour: 9:52 am
As a result of the Ukrainian decision, Slovakia will lose €500 million in revenue from transit gas fees through its territory.
On Thursday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico described Ukraine’s decision to block the transit of Russian natural gas through its territory as “sabotage.” As a result of this measure, which took effect on January 1, Slovakia will lose €500 million in revenue from transit gas fees through its territory.
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“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has started harming Slovakia’s state finances and the entire European Union,” Fico said, noting that the disruption of Russian gas supplies will cost the EU up to an additional €70 billion, according to a study conducted by Slovak Gas Industry (SPP).
“Only the United States will benefit from this decision, with increased gas imports to Europe,” Fico asserted.
On Tuesday, delegations from Slovakia and Ukraine are set to meet in Brussels to address this gas dispute, and if an agreement is not reached, Bratislava will take action.
“We are ready to propose cutting off electricity supplies,” Fico reiterated, although such a move would require declaring force majeure.
The reason for this is that energy suppliers are private companies, and the decision to supply or not supply electricity to the neighboring country does not fall under state jurisdiction.
Fico is also prepared to “substantially reduce support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovak territory.” Currently, about 127,000 Ukrainian refugees with special visas reside in Slovakia.
He has been a consistent critic of Western support policies for Ukraine and halted military aid to Kyiv upon assuming office in the fall of 2023. His late December visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow sparked outrage in Kyiv.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
