Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of prioritizing Russian gas imports despite Kyiv's decision to halt transit to Europe.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, claiming he does not want to end the NATO member's reliance on Russian natural gas. There is a growing spat between the leaders over Kyiv's decision not to renew a deal for the transit of the fuel through Ukraine to European purchasers, which include Slovakia. Zelensky criticized Fico for not accepting a compensation deal for losses this caused.
Politico had reported that Fico had previously accused the Ukrainian leader of bribing him with 500 million euros ($519 million) of Russian assets in exchange for alliance membership. Newsweek has contacted the Slovakian government for comment. Russian natural gas is a major revenue generator for Moscow, but the key export has been hit hard by Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, due to Western sanctions and Europe looking to alternative energy providers. Ukraine's gas transit agreement for flows to Europe expires on December 31, and Kyiv has said it would not renew this deal because it helps fund Putin's invasion. Natural gas was top of Fico's agenda during his meeting with Putin on December 22, which the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said would be likely leveraged by Moscow to exploit divides within the EU over Russian gas. Slovakia has a contract with Russian state giant Gazprom and has said that finding gas from elsewhere would cost 220 million euros ($229 million) more in transit expenses. However, Zelensky said Fico had been offered compensation for losses and that, despite transit alternatives, the Slovakian leader was interested only in Russian gas. Fico had earlier said Zelensky had offered him 500 million euros ($520 million) of Russian assets if he voted for NATO membership for Kyiv; 'of course, I said 'never,'' said Fic
RUSSIAN GAS UKRAINE SLOVAKIA NATO ENERGY POLITICS
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