Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. In the evening, the head of the Slovak government said on social networks that they had a “long conversation” and Putin “confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue supplying gas to the West and Slovakia.” Ukraine has announced that it will not renew the contract, which expires at the end of the year, and will allow gas transit through its territory.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Fico and Putin's talks will discuss gas transit and the current international situation. He added that the meeting was arranged in the Kremlin “a few days ago”.
WHO IS ROBERT FICO? READ MORE: pragmatic square. Post-communist and liberal, Eurosceptic and Euroenthusiast in one
Robert Fico met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow PAP/EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN/POOL
Fico: Putin confirmed his readiness to continue gas deliveries
On Sunday evening, Fico wrote on social networks that representatives of the European Union were informed in advance of his visit to Moscow. He said that Putin “confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue supplying gas to the West and Slovakia”.
“In a long conversation with Vladimir Putin, I exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine, the possibility of an early end to the war, and mutual relations between Slovakia and the Russian Federation, which I intend to standardize. Activities related to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the victory over fascism, in which the Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and other peoples of the former USSR played a decisive role,” wrote the head of the Slovak government.
Gas transit through Ukraine
Slovakia is dependent on gas transit through Ukraine, and FICO – at the recent EU summit in Brussels – tried to draw member states' attention to the problem of gas transit from Russia through Ukraine, but failed. After the meeting, he said that if the president of Ukraine does not allow the gas to be taken, it could lead to a “serious conflict”.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that it will not renew the transit agreement with Russia due to the comprehensive aggression against this country, which has been going on for 34 months. Kyiv has decided to finalize the contract at the end of this year.
Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with the Russian giant Gazprom, claims that gas transit via a route other than Russia through Ukraine is worth more than 200 million euros.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN/POL
