Fico: After meeting with the Kremlin, Putin and Slovak PM discussed gas transit, standardizing “mutual relations”  

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**Slovak PM Meets with , Discusses Gas Transit and Ukraine **

Slovak Prime Robert Fico met with President Vladimir Putin on December 22. They discussed gas transit, the war in Ukraine, and standardizing between Russia and Slovakia.

Fico visited Moscow during a trip to the city. He said the meeting was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to extend the transit of supplies to the European Union via Ukraine.

**Gas Transit and Ukraine**

An agreement to allow the transit of gas from Russia to Europe via Ukraine is set to expire on December 31, 2024. Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv will not extend the deal. Fico criticized this decision, warning of a looming gas crisis.

Fico also criticized Zelensky’s support for sanctions against Russia’s nuclear program. He said this would financially damage Slovakia and threaten in Slovak nuclear power plants.

**Meeting with Putin**

During his meeting with Putin, Fico discussed the war in Ukraine and relations between Moscow and Bratislava. He said they exchanged views on the in Ukraine and possibilities for an early peaceful end to the war.

Fico has been a vocal opponent of military aid for Ukraine. He also has close ties to , another Central European populist leader with friendly attitudes toward Putin.

**Slovakia’s Reliance on Russian Gas**

Slovakia and Hungary are both heavily reliant on Russian gas, despite the EU’s efforts to wean itself from Russian fossil fuels amid the full-scale . Ukraine’s decision to let the transit agreement expire prompted state-owned energy companies in Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, and Austria to issue a joint declaration calling for the continuation of gas transit.

Slovakia has a long-term contract with Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Fico said alternative arrangements could cost an additional €220 million ($228.73 million) in transit fees.

Read More @ kyivindependent.com

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