Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced retaliatory measures against Ukraine after Kyiv stopped the flow of Russian natural gas to central Europe. Fico threatened to cut financial aid for over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia and consider cutting electricity supplies to Ukraine. He demanded the renewal of the gas transits or compensation for the financial losses Slovakia has faced due to the halt of Russian gas flow. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported that as of December 8th, there were 130,532 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, with most crossing the border between the two countries directly.
Exports of Russian gas through a pipeline in Ukraine were stopped on New Year’s Day after Kyiv refused to renew a transit deal with Gazprom that had been signed before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Slovakia had been trying to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to renew the deal to maintain the cheap gas supply. The feud between the countries has worsened, with Zelenskyy arguing against allowing countries to profit from Ukraine’s situation. Fico claimed that the halt in Russian gas would harm the EU more than Russia, as it would increase gas and power prices in Europe. Although Slovakia has alternative gas supply arrangements, the country could lose €500 million in transit fees due to Ukraine’s decision.
Slovakia signed short-term contracts to purchase natural gas from Azerbaijan and US-sourced liquefied natural gas via Poland with the ability to receive gas through other neighboring countries’ pipelines. Fico estimated that the EU could lose €120 billion over the next two years due to the end of the gas transit deal. Moldova declared a state of emergency expecting severe gas shortages post-deal. The European Commission stated that it had prepared for the end of gas transit via Ukraine by relying on LNG and non-Russian pipeline imports through alternative routes. Poland celebrated the end of the deal as a victory against Russia.
Fico, known for his friendly ties with Moscow, visited Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss gas supplies and threatened to cut backup electricity supplies to Kyiv. The decision was seen as an effort to weaken Ukraine and support Russia in the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy accused Fico of assisting Putin in funding the war against Ukraine. Ukraine is heavily reliant on Slovakian electricity supplies, and Poland offered to increase energy exports to Ukraine to compensate for any potential losses from Slovakia. Zelenskyy criticized Fico’s attempts to continue the deal, calling it a second energy front against Ukraine on Russia’s behalf.
The European Commission assured that most EU states could manage without Russian gas supplies through Ukraine by using alternative routes. While countries like Moldova faced challenges due to the end of the gas deal, Poland viewed it as a victory against Russia. Fico’s threat to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine and his efforts to continue the gas deal have strained relations with Kyiv. Zelenskyy accused Slovakia of working against Ukraine’s interests at the direction of Russia. The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics involving Russian gas supplies to Europe and the impact on neighboring countries.
