Just hours prior to a Brussels-mediated session aimed at resolving tensions, the Slovak government under Robert Fico accused Ukraine of abandoning discussions, issuing a statement that claimed, “Due to the fact that the Ukrainian side will not attend … the European Commission has decided to cancel the meeting.”
However, speaking to POLITICO, Ukraine’s EU ambassador, Vsevolod Chentsov, refuted these accusations, stating the meeting was actually initiated by Kyiv to address Fico’s threats to disrupt the supply of electricity to the grid. “Ukraine triggered the early warning mechanism on electricity supplies because of Fico’s threats to stop the supplies, not gas transit talks,” Chentsov explained.
Chentsov further clarified that Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko had initially intended to participate in the Brussels discussions. However, due to pressing challenges in Ukraine’s energy sector, Galushchenko was unable to attend and proposed an online meeting instead. According to the ambassador, Commission officials suggested rescheduling the discussion for another date.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed their willingness to engage on these issues, stating, “The Commission has been ready to follow up and discuss the impacts of the end of the transit agreements with all parties concerned. We continue to stay in close contact.”
Both Slovakia and Hungary have been vocal in their calls for extending the gas transit agreement, arguing that its termination could lead to a major price crisis or a supply shortage, as detailed in a POLITICO report. However, EU officials noted that neither scenario has materialized thus far.
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