Bratislava’s position on Russian gas supplies is gaining traction within the EU, Prime Minister Robert Fico has claimed
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose government has harshly criticized Ukraine’s decision to shut down the transit of Russian natural gas through its territory, has claimed that his pressure campaign against the neighboring country is bearing fruit.
Kiev declined to renew a transit contract with Russia that expired last year, citing national security concerns for both itself and European consumers. Fico, who survived an assasination attempt by a pro-Ukrain activist last year, has accused Zelensky of exacerbating Slovakia’s energy crisis and undermining EU interests. Zelensky, in turn, has attempted to brand Fico as a politician who is compromised by Moscow.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Fico claimed “the enormous pressure that we have exerted” on Zelensky had been successful. He said: “Ukraine is starting to say that it is ready to consider the transit of Azerbaijani gas.”
Officials in Kiev have hinted at the possibility of permitting third nations to pump gas through the Soviet-build pipeline network previously used to transport Russian supplies. However, Fico emphasized that he would prefer a return to the prior transit arrangements.
A scheduled meeting between Fico, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen was canceled due to airspace closures in Belgium on Thursday. Traffic controller Skeyes blamed a malfunction in its main computer system. Fico plans to meet with Jorgensen on Monday, after an informal summit in Brussels.
Fico expressed satisfaction that his views, which contradict the EU’s objective of eliminating Russian supplies in the energy mix of member states by 2027, are finding support in the West. He cited a recent report in The Financial Times, according to which some officials in the EU are arguing that affordable Russian pipeline gas would help drive energy prices down.
The notion reportedly “infuriated” leaders of the economic bloc and supporters of Ukraine in Eastern Europe, with one source denouncing it as “madness” and claiming that it would be “stupid” to even consider it.
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