**Ukraine Rejects Claims of Refusing Gas Transit Talks**
The Ukrainian government has denied claims that it refused to participate in trilateral talks with the EU and Slovakia on Russian gas transit. The meeting was scheduled for January 7 in Brussels.
According to Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine initiated the meeting to address Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s threats to halt electricity exports to Ukraine and cut support for Ukrainian refugees. However, the European Commission suggested rescheduling the meeting for later, and Kyiv proposed holding it online.
**Slovakia Relies Heavily on Russian Gas**
Slovakia remains dependent on Russian gas, bound by a long-term contract with Gazprom, Moscow’s state-owned energy giant. Switching to alternative supply routes could cost Slovakia an additional 220 million euros ($229 million) in transit fees, Fico claimed.
**Hungary Accuses Ukraine of Exacerbating Economic Challenges**
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of exacerbating Europe’s economic challenges by halting Russian gas transit, leading to a 20% rise in natural gas prices on the European market.