Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that halting gas transit through Ukraine will severely impact the European Union, while having little effect on Russia. In a New Year’s address shared on social media, Fico emphasized, “This move will have a drastic impact on all of us in the EU — but not on the Russian Federation.”
Fico, who has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, paid a surprise visit to Moscow over the Christmas holidays to discuss gas supplies. He has vocally argued that the termination of the transit deal will increase costs for the EU, harm the bloc’s competitiveness, and lead to higher energy prices in Slovakia.
The Slovak leader has also threatened to impose “reciprocal measures” against Ukraine if the transit arrangement is not extended, signaling the possibility of halting electricity exports to the neighboring country during what is expected to be a harsh winter.
Ukraine, however, has dismissed Fico’s warnings, suggesting instead that its domestic gas production could serve as an alternative energy source for neighboring countries. Additionally, Poland has stepped forward, declaring its readiness to increase electricity exports to Ukraine should Fico follow through with his threats.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski hailed the cessation of the Russian gas transit deal as a win for Ukraine. “Putin spent billions building Nord Stream to bypass Ukraine and blackmail Eastern Europe with the threat of cutting off gas supplies. Today, Ukraine has cut off his ability to export gas directly to the EU,” Sikorski commented in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This escalating dynamic highlights the increasingly complex energy politics in Eastern Europe, with Ukraine and its allies striving to reduce dependency on Russian gas while Slovakia voices concerns over the broader economic implications for the EU.
Leave a Reply