Slovak coalition to discuss response to Ukraine's gas transit halt: PM
Jan 03, 2025
Bratislava [Slovakia], January 3: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday that his Smer-SD party is ready to negotiate with coalition partners about reciprocal measures against Ukraine following the halt of Russian gas transit.
The measures may include cutting electricity supplies to Ukraine and limiting support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia, Fico said on social media.
Fico called the situation "extremely serious and deserving of a sovereign response from Slovakia."
He said Slovakia stands to lose 500 million euros (513 million U.S. dollars) annually in transit fees after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to stop Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Gas flow to Slovakia ceased on Jan. 1, 2025, after the transit contract expired on Dec. 31, 2024.
The only alternatives for Slovakia are to resume transit or to seek compensation mechanisms to make up for the loss, added Fico.
Fico emphasized that only the United States benefits from Zelensky's decision through increased gas exports to Europe, while Russia faces no significant harm.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
