**Slovak PM Offers Meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky**
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Slovakia on January 13. The meeting is meant to discuss halting Russian gas transit through Ukraine.
**Zelensky Accepts the Invitation**
Just hours after Fico’s call, Zelensky accepted and said he would come to Kyiv on Friday. This comes after a day of exchanges between the two leaders over Fico’s threats to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies if Russia stops gas transit through Ukraine.
**Background: Russian Gas Transit**
Russia stopped gas transit through Ukraine in January 2025, which has affected not only Ukraine but also European countries relying on Russian gas. The Slovak government estimated that it would lose around $510 million per year due to the stoppage of Russian gas supplies.
**Fico’s Proposal**
Fico wants to hold a meeting with Zelensky near the Ukrainian border in Slovakia as soon as possible. He believes this will help establish “favorable conditions” for discussing gas supplies and possible technical solutions. However, Fico has said he won’t respond to recent statements from Zelensky to avoid further escalation.
**Previous Threats**
Fico previously threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine amid blackouts due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. He and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban have been among the most vocal opponents of stopping Russian gas transit through Ukraine, despite maintaining friendly ties with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
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