**Slovak PM Refuses Ukraine’s Help with Gas Supplies**
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, has refused Ukraine’s offer to help the country adapt to the absence of Russian gas transit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made this statement on January 12.
Zelensky said that Ukraine had offered its assistance to the people of Slovakia during their transition, but Fico rejected it. Zelensky also accused Fico of being unreliable and of begging and blackmailing European leaders for support.
**Slovakia Still Relies Heavily on Russian Gas**
Slovakia is still heavily reliant on Russian gas, despite other EU countries finding alternative energy providers. The country has threatened to cut off humanitarian aid and electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation.
Zelensky condemned Fico’s threat, saying it was like opening a “second energy front against Ukraine” at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fico met with Putin in Moscow just days before the transit deal expired.
**A Second Group of Volunteers Joins Ukrainian Unit**
Ukraine has announced that a second group of volunteers has signed contracts to join a unit being trained in France. For the first time, women have also applied for medical and communications roles in this unit.
**European Commission to Draft New Sanctions Against Russia**
The European Commission plans to begin drafting new sanctions against Russia next week. The goal is to approve these sanctions on February 24, which marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This article can be found at kyivindependent.com