Ukraine Challenges Slovakia as Fico Threatens Power Cut Over Russia Gas Deal Dispute

Kyiv is poised to mitigate the potential loss of energy supplies by importing electricity from Romania and Poland, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed. Poland has already pledged its support, offering assistance in case of a disruption.

“If the intent is to inflict pain on Ukraine,” Halushchenko remarked, “it’s not going to work in this scenario.”

For months, Slovakia and Hungary—led by pro-Russia leaders Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán—have been pressuring Ukraine to renew a gas transit deal that expires imminently. While gas transiting through Ukraine represents only about 5 percent of the European Union’s total imports, Slovakia and Hungary argue that ending the agreement could jeopardize their energy security. They have called on the EU to back an extension of the deal, although the European Commission has consistently dismissed such appeals.

In a controversial move, Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow over the Christmas holidays to discuss gas supplies. This prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse the Slovak leader of undermining European unity. Meanwhile, several Central European energy firms have pushed for an extension of the gas agreement.

Despite these concerns, experts say Slovakia is unlikely to face energy shortages if the deal expires. Instead, the country’s primary focus appears to be maintaining the substantial revenue it earns from transporting and reselling Russian gas. A senior Ukrainian official recently estimated that Slovakia generates roughly half a billion dollars annually from discounted gas transit fees, underscoring the financial stakes at play.