Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico called Ukraine’s suspension of gas shipments from Russia to the European Union “an act of sabotage by Zelensky.” In a video released Thursday, he once again threatened to cut off electricity to Ukraine and also talked about potentially limiting aid to Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.
Fico claims that the suspension of transport did not pose a threat to the gas supply to Slovak households, but only resulted in a loss of income from transporting gas through Slovak territory and further into Western Europe. He estimated it at 500 million euros a year.
Slovakia. Robert Fico talks about gas transport outage
The Prime Minister announced that Slovak representatives will discuss the transport suspension in Brussels next Tuesday. According to some sources, the meeting will include representatives from Ukraine, Slovakia and the European Commission. After these talks, Mr. Fico wants to convene a meeting of the ruling coalition, and then a meeting of the ministers, to discuss the possible interruption of electricity supplies and a significant reduction in support for Ukrainian nationals staying on the territory of the Slovak Republic. There is.
See also: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in Moscow. he spoke with President Vladimir Putin
It is estimated that there are approximately 140,000 people in Slovakia. Refugees who left Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. There are approximately 64,000 workers and students. Ukrainians in Slovakia benefit from various aid programs, but authorities have limited this program by adjusting the amount and duration of aid in 2024. The last adjustment from the fall limited the loan period for housing costs from 120 days to 60 days. Non-governmental organizations estimate that 15,000 people were directly affected by the cuts. people.
Russia’s Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it would suspend gas exports to Europe via Ukraine starting in 2020. On the 8th Moscow time (6 a.m. Polish time), the deadline for the agreement on the transportation of this raw material expired. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy justified his decision not to extend the deal, saying he did not want Russia to continue to earn billions of dollars from the blood of Ukrainians.
See also: Slovakia threatens Ukraine over energy supplies. “Poland is ready to help”
Robert Fico threatens Ukraine
On Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico threatened Ukraine with cutting off electricity supplies if Kiev implements its announcement and stops Russian gas shipments to his country after the new year.
In response to threats from Slovakia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico of opening a “second energy front” against Ukraine on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.
In December, Robert Fico visited Moscow and met with President Putin. “This is a big problem for the security of Slovakia and Europe as a whole. Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow?” – Volodymyr Zelensky wondered then. The President of Ukraine suggested that Slovakia’s special agency should take an interest in this issue.
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