To this end , the conflict between and , as the latter is expected to stop the transit of natural gas from Russia to Europe today. The Slovak Government threatens Ukraine by stopping emergency electricity supply after 1 January 2025, if Ukraine ceases transit of Russian gas. CORVERSE Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is at the heart of the dispute, notes Handelsblatt. Last week, Fiko visited Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Their conversation focused on future supplies of Russian gas in Slovakia, Fiko then explained on Facebook. According to the Russian state news agency Tass, Fiko offered to mediate the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine during his visit to Putin. The Russian president called Slovakia a “acceptable alternative” as a mediator, as the country takes a “neutral position”. CORVERSE Zelensky on the natural gas dispute: Fico: What’s Fiko gonna pay for? Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak even told TA3 TV that Ukraine should grant part of its territory in order to achieve peace with Russia. That’s the reality. Along with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, Fiko is Putin’s biggest supporter in the EU and NATO. He wants to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and not providing “another bullet” of military assistance to Ukraine. In an interview with Russian state television in October, he argued that the West “prolonged the war” through its support for Ukraine. The sanctions against Russia were ineffective. A Slovak political scientist recently stated that Fiko is evolving into a “second Victor Orban”. Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky suspects more than just sympathy between Fiko and Putin. Russia had granted Slovakia discounts on energy supplies, wrote to X after Fiko’s trip to Moscow. But such discounts always have a price. “Why (Fico) is so dependent on Russia? What are they paying him and what is he paying with?” Zelenski asked. Fiko described his meeting with Putin as a reaction to the fact that Zelensky had taken action against “the transit of natural gas through Ukraine on our territory”. In the days preceding his meeting with Putin, Fiko had already tried in vain, among other things, at the EU summit in Brussels to prevent the termination of the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia announced by Ukraine. He stressed that this threatened his country with a serious crisis, because it depends entirely on Russian gas and has almost no alternative. Slovakia was therefore authorised by the EU to continue to buy Russian gas. However, this EU licence is virtually useless to the country, as Ukraine will no longer allow the transit of natural gas since the change of year. Slovakia continues to buy gas from Russia Prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Slovakia fully depended on Russian gas. After the invasion, the country differentiated gas suppliers. Nevertheless, Slovakia still covers 2/3 of its gas needs from Russia. Slovakia is not the only country with this attitude. Hungary also requires the continuation of transit through Ukraine. The Hungarian Prime Minister wants to try a loophole, as he said in an update. If his country buys gas from Russia, this should already be considered Hungarian gas when it arrives in Ukraine. Whether Ukraine will agree to this is doubtful. Slovakia also initially tried to compromise. In mid-December, Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Smigall said Ukraine was ready for an agreement on gas transfer to Slovakia – provided, however, that gas would not come from Russia. Talks appear to have collapsed with the latest threat to provide emergency electricity. Ukraine needs electricity from Slovakia The Russian army has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine. As a result, electricity supply is limited. According to its own data, Ukraine currently imports about 1/5 of its electricity from Slovakia. President Zelenski accused Bratislava in X of having opened a “second energy front” against Ukraine at Putin’s command. On the one hand, it was immoral to support Russian aggression in this way. On the other hand, Slovakia could lose the US$200 million annually paid by Ukraine for imported electricity. Furthermore, it would be more profitable for everyone in Europe, including the Slovak population, to work with the EU and its neighbours to improve energy supply. Fiko must comply with European rules. Insidious decisions on his part could disrupt ties with the European community. Fiko was interrupting emergency electricity supply “at the expense of the Slovak people”. Furthermore, it would be more profitable for everyone in Europe, including the Slovak population, to cooperate with the EU and its neighbours to improve energy supply. Fiko must respect European rules. Insidious decisions on his part could disrupt ties with the European community. Fiko cut off the supply of emergency electricity “at the expense of the Slovak people”. Parts of the Slovak opposition reacted critically to Fico’s visit. The previous government provided significant military assistance. However, this was and remains controversial among the population. Many Slovaks also consider the West and Ukraine to be responsible for the war. They are more critical of the country’s accession to NATO and the EU than the population of other countries in the region. However, Fico’s foreign policy path is clear that it cannot maintain broad support for the population. A poll of Ipsos published in November shows declining support for Smer’s left populist party. The Progressive Slovakia party, on the other hand, made profits. Other research confirms this trend.
Natural gas: What hides behind the Slovak–Ukraine conflict
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