Fico said he was stunned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s refusal to allow transit after the two leaders spoke at a summit in Brussels. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not transit Russian-origin gas unless it has guarantees that the Kremlin will not benefit financially while the war continues.
This leaves importers such as Slovakia with few options to keep the route open. The country has proposed several alternatives, such as changing the ownership of the gas before it enters Ukraine, but Zelenskyy dismissed these ideas as “games,” Fico told reporters late on December 19.
While Europe as a whole is unlikely to suffer any harm if Russian gas flows through Ukraine stop after 2024, Slovakia is among the few countries that still depend on these imports, and the country is warning of possible financial damage.
Fico doubted that Ukraine “has the right to harm the economic and national interests of an individual EU member state” in such circumstances. If Kyiv does not allow gas transit, it will consider during Christmas whether to take retaliatory measures against Ukraine, he said.
Currently, Slovakia sends electricity, humanitarian aid, and private arms supplies, including ammunition, to Ukraine. The Fico-led government has refused to send military aid from its own reserves and has also refused to support Ukraine’s NATO membership. It also tries to maintain friendly relations with Moscow and criticizes the involvement of the United States and most European Union countries in the war through military support for Ukraine.
The Slovak prime minister said he wants to continue talks with the European Commission over the next three to four days in an attempt to find “arguments on Ukraine.” He also said that his discussions with Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal were more constructive and he was surprised by Zelenskyy’s “direct” words.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he was aware of Slovakia’s financial problems, but added that “it’s a little bit embarrassing to talk about money because we are losing people.”
Ukrainian President confirmed the termination of transit from 2025 and emphasized that Ukraine will not allow Russia to earn additional billions on the blood of Ukrainians, so the transit of Russian gas will be stopped. Zelenskyy said that since any country in the world that can get anything cheap from Russia, “tomorrow or in a month or a year will be dependent on Russia.”
it_just_works1 on
Seems he is trying to prove he can be a bigger bitch to putin than Orban or Lukaschenko
Uriel42069666 on
Wow, Slovakia is that dependent on Russia to the point of threatening Ukraine. Simply wow.
Energy colonialism Sci-fi worthy.
Fico my man should’ve diversified.
CrazyBird85 on
NATO member people… With these friends we no longer need enemies.
tgh_hmn on
Slovakia’s moron does not realize he does not matter even for putler
Ill-Priority8235 on
rofl.
Kr0n0s_89 on
Traitors. Traitors everywhere.
Business-Dentist6431 on
Shame on the Slovaks who voted him in.
Intelligent-Let-8503 on
And what should Ukraine do for country who is for Russia?
YougoReddits on
They had since 2014 to consider their options to not put all their eggs in one basket (but they did nothing), so they could have been prepared to make decisions since the start of the war (but they did nothing). When all the other countries were making decisions, they could have hopped on that train and get some options (but they did nothing).
Ukraine isn’t even stopping the gas transfer, they said the old contract is running out, and they are willing to negotiate a new contract.
Of course, if you continue to do nothing, no new contract will come, and no gas will come
Big pikachu faced duh!
Pure_Toe6636 on
Slovakia could simply help Ukraine secure its own gas fields and they would have free gas for a long time lol
[deleted] on
[removed]
MAHwhat on
Slovakia has had close to 3 full years to adapt like anyone else. Play stupid games win stupid prizez.
It’s pathetic brodering on insanity to expect from Ukraine that they facilitate income for Russia, that goes directly towards killing Ukraine.
Fuck you, fico. The fault is on Slovakia.
mariuszmie on
Hahah – well, at least he is loyal to his employer no matter how bad he makes it for his country in the long run
Plus, what can he boycott with? What sanctions? He’s already doing that.
Except for a veto, Slovakia is meaningless (sorry but overall it’s true, even for Ukraine)
Mbalosky_Mbabosky on
Would make perfect sense for them to not close a way for russia to fund its war.
ITI110878 on
Ukraine should simply keep ignoring him until his big ugly head explodes from stress.
FriezaDeezNuts on
So they admit they want terrorist gas, even if kids are murdered and kidnapped to keep it, got it we see who you are now.
blackcyborg009 on
Robert Fico + Viktor Orban + Vatnik Vucic = paid by Vladimir Putin
Basement_Chicken on
Everything is negotiable, but Fico doesn’t have a moat in this deal. If they are truly so desperate, they could pay 100% for the gas, while getting only, say, 10% of it and allowing Ukraine keep the remaining 90%. Or, weapons for gas. If they disagree, they must’ve been not so desperate.
Szczeciner on
Thrilling. I’d more concerned if Czech Republic threaths to block port of Gdansk with their navy. Fico acts like he forgot the inferiority of Slovakia.
CLKguy1991 on
Uhh, maybe give a threat to putin that his war is putting Slovakia’s energy supply at risk? No?
Yeah of course not.
proxima_inferno on
Haha you cozy up to russia and promise your citizens that you are better off without EU send the west
Now they will feel what your lies brought them.
proxima_inferno on
Haha you cozy up to russia and promise your citizens that you are better off without EU send the west
Now they will feel what your lies brought them.
proxima_inferno on
You cozy up to russia and say your country is better off without the EU and the west? Don’t play the game if you can’t take the hits
Now you citizens will literally feel what your lies brought them
New-Focus-4623 on
Or what ? It is Ukraine and they do their decisions.
bogdan801 on
So what is he gonna do? Cry to orban or his boss poopin? We have been receiving threats of nuclear annihilation for 3 years now, lived under bombs, drones, and missiles every day. It takes more than a putin-sucking crybaby to make us scared
chillebekk on
You’ve had three whole years to find a solution, get fucked.
ButterscotchFancy912 on
Fuco su#ks # NAFO
blackie-arts on
what is he gonna do, invade?
PaulBlartMallBlob on
This looks like an incentive to invest in renewables rather than villainize a country struggling to keep it’s freedom against a gas spewing smog monster of a country 🫤
hibbant on
They could deliver it with rockets just refill it with oil and not explosive, I heard they have more then enough XD
Fizo is just as embarrassing as orban
VegetableLeave5714 on
Vlad’s favourites toys this Xmass are Woodoo Dools 🪆Ficoi 🪆Musky 🪆Trumpy 🪆Orbano
VegetableLeave5714 on
There are so many hot springs, they basically sitting on boiling water like Iceland.
KGrahnn on
It would be terrible, if russians would hit their own gas line and cut the supply. In a war anything can happen. It would be so terrible..
Metalmind123 on
Ukraine continued transiting Russian gas for nearly 3 years while at war with Russia, fulfilling existing contracts despite the war.
They bought you years to diversify your energy sources.
And they didn’t stop any contracts, they’re simply not signing any new contracts with Russia, while Russia is invading them.
You’d have to be an idiot of spectacular proportions to not see this coming.
IndependentOpinion44 on
Do we even need Slovakia? You could fit another Austria in there and everyone would be a lot happier.
Trading_shadows on
Slovakia’s prime minister will not survive next accident.
pokIane on
I hope Ukraine follows through and indeed cuts off the transit of gas. Anyone who chose to still be reliant on Russian gas and gets fucked over because of it has nobody to blame but themselves.
SurelyIDidThisAlread on
Slovakia’s failure to prepare is not Ukraine’s problem
totally_not_a_zombie on
What a twat. I’m calling it, he’s going to sanction Ukrainian grain transit.
40 Comments
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said that Slovakia may consider appropriate measures against Ukraine if it does not continue gas transit from Russia to Europe, [Bloomberg reports](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-20/slovakia-may-take-measures-against-ukraine-over-gas-transit).
Fico said he was stunned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s refusal to allow transit after the two leaders spoke at a summit in Brussels. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not transit Russian-origin gas unless it has guarantees that the Kremlin will not benefit financially while the war continues.
This leaves importers such as Slovakia with few options to keep the route open. The country has proposed several alternatives, such as changing the ownership of the gas before it enters Ukraine, but Zelenskyy dismissed these ideas as “games,” Fico told reporters late on December 19.
While Europe as a whole is unlikely to suffer any harm if Russian gas flows through Ukraine stop after 2024, Slovakia is among the few countries that still depend on these imports, and the country is warning of possible financial damage.
Fico doubted that Ukraine “has the right to harm the economic and national interests of an individual EU member state” in such circumstances. If Kyiv does not allow gas transit, it will consider during Christmas whether to take retaliatory measures against Ukraine, he said.
Currently, Slovakia sends electricity, humanitarian aid, and private arms supplies, including ammunition, to Ukraine. The Fico-led government has refused to send military aid from its own reserves and has also refused to support Ukraine’s NATO membership. It also tries to maintain friendly relations with Moscow and criticizes the involvement of the United States and most European Union countries in the war through military support for Ukraine.
The Slovak prime minister said he wants to continue talks with the European Commission over the next three to four days in an attempt to find “arguments on Ukraine.” He also said that his discussions with Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal were more constructive and he was surprised by Zelenskyy’s “direct” words.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he was aware of Slovakia’s financial problems, but added that “it’s a little bit embarrassing to talk about money because we are losing people.”
Ukrainian President confirmed the termination of transit from 2025 and emphasized that Ukraine will not allow Russia to earn additional billions on the blood of Ukrainians, so the transit of Russian gas will be stopped. Zelenskyy said that since any country in the world that can get anything cheap from Russia, “tomorrow or in a month or a year will be dependent on Russia.”
Seems he is trying to prove he can be a bigger bitch to putin than Orban or Lukaschenko
Wow, Slovakia is that dependent on Russia to the point of threatening Ukraine. Simply wow.
Energy colonialism Sci-fi worthy.
Fico my man should’ve diversified.
NATO member people… With these friends we no longer need enemies.
Slovakia’s moron does not realize he does not matter even for putler
rofl.
Traitors. Traitors everywhere.
Shame on the Slovaks who voted him in.
And what should Ukraine do for country who is for Russia?
They had since 2014 to consider their options to not put all their eggs in one basket (but they did nothing), so they could have been prepared to make decisions since the start of the war (but they did nothing). When all the other countries were making decisions, they could have hopped on that train and get some options (but they did nothing).
Ukraine isn’t even stopping the gas transfer, they said the old contract is running out, and they are willing to negotiate a new contract.
Of course, if you continue to do nothing, no new contract will come, and no gas will come
Big pikachu faced duh!
Slovakia could simply help Ukraine secure its own gas fields and they would have free gas for a long time lol
[removed]
Slovakia has had close to 3 full years to adapt like anyone else. Play stupid games win stupid prizez.
It’s pathetic brodering on insanity to expect from Ukraine that they facilitate income for Russia, that goes directly towards killing Ukraine.
Fuck you, fico. The fault is on Slovakia.
Hahah – well, at least he is loyal to his employer no matter how bad he makes it for his country in the long run
Plus, what can he boycott with? What sanctions? He’s already doing that.
Except for a veto, Slovakia is meaningless (sorry but overall it’s true, even for Ukraine)
Would make perfect sense for them to not close a way for russia to fund its war.
Ukraine should simply keep ignoring him until his big ugly head explodes from stress.
So they admit they want terrorist gas, even if kids are murdered and kidnapped to keep it, got it we see who you are now.
Robert Fico + Viktor Orban + Vatnik Vucic = paid by Vladimir Putin
Everything is negotiable, but Fico doesn’t have a moat in this deal. If they are truly so desperate, they could pay 100% for the gas, while getting only, say, 10% of it and allowing Ukraine keep the remaining 90%. Or, weapons for gas. If they disagree, they must’ve been not so desperate.
Thrilling. I’d more concerned if Czech Republic threaths to block port of Gdansk with their navy. Fico acts like he forgot the inferiority of Slovakia.
Uhh, maybe give a threat to putin that his war is putting Slovakia’s energy supply at risk? No?
Yeah of course not.
Haha you cozy up to russia and promise your citizens that you are better off without EU send the west
Now they will feel what your lies brought them.
Haha you cozy up to russia and promise your citizens that you are better off without EU send the west
Now they will feel what your lies brought them.
You cozy up to russia and say your country is better off without the EU and the west? Don’t play the game if you can’t take the hits
Now you citizens will literally feel what your lies brought them
Or what ? It is Ukraine and they do their decisions.
So what is he gonna do? Cry to orban or his boss poopin? We have been receiving threats of nuclear annihilation for 3 years now, lived under bombs, drones, and missiles every day. It takes more than a putin-sucking crybaby to make us scared
You’ve had three whole years to find a solution, get fucked.
Fuco su#ks # NAFO
what is he gonna do, invade?
This looks like an incentive to invest in renewables rather than villainize a country struggling to keep it’s freedom against a gas spewing smog monster of a country 🫤
They could deliver it with rockets just refill it with oil and not explosive, I heard they have more then enough XD
Fizo is just as embarrassing as orban
Vlad’s favourites toys this Xmass are Woodoo Dools 🪆Ficoi 🪆Musky 🪆Trumpy 🪆Orbano
There are so many hot springs, they basically sitting on boiling water like Iceland.
It would be terrible, if russians would hit their own gas line and cut the supply. In a war anything can happen. It would be so terrible..
Ukraine continued transiting Russian gas for nearly 3 years while at war with Russia, fulfilling existing contracts despite the war.
They bought you years to diversify your energy sources.
And they didn’t stop any contracts, they’re simply not signing any new contracts with Russia, while Russia is invading them.
You’d have to be an idiot of spectacular proportions to not see this coming.
Do we even need Slovakia? You could fit another Austria in there and everyone would be a lot happier.
Slovakia’s prime minister will not survive next accident.
I hope Ukraine follows through and indeed cuts off the transit of gas. Anyone who chose to still be reliant on Russian gas and gets fucked over because of it has nobody to blame but themselves.
Slovakia’s failure to prepare is not Ukraine’s problem
What a twat. I’m calling it, he’s going to sanction Ukrainian grain transit.