Ukraine‘s President Zelenksy Responds to Slovakia‘s Electricity Threat Amid Gas Transit Dispute
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted to warnings from Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico about potentially halting electricity supplies to Ukraine over its refusal to continue Russian gas transit after 2024. In a post on X (Twitter), Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s need for electricity imports stemmed solely from Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and deliberate destruction of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
"It seems that Putin has tasked Fico with opening a second energy front against Ukraine, this time at the expense of Slovakia’s interests," Zelensky stated. Addressing Fico, he noted, "Supporting Russia’s criminal aggression is utterly immoral. Your short-sighted policies have already deprived the Slovak people of compensation for the loss of Russian gas transit, and could further cost them around $200 million annually in electricity imports from Ukraine."
Zelensky highlighted Slovakia’s significant role in Ukraine’s electricity imports, accounting for nearly 19%. He confirmed that the Ukrainian government is engaged in talks with neighboring EU countries to secure essential power supplies. "Slovakia is part of the united European energy market, and Fico must respect European rules," Zelensky underscored. "Any arbitrary decisions in Bratislava or orders from Moscow won’t stop Ukraine’s electricity imports, but they might lead to Slovakia’s isolation from the European community."
Earlier, Fico criticized Ukraine for rejecting an extension of the Russia-Ukraine gas transit agreement and hinted at potential countermeasures, including a possible halt to electricity supplies. Zelensky, however, remains firm in his stance, rejecting any prospects of renewing the agreement with Gazprom or acting as a transit route for Russian gas under the guise of other origins.
