NATO member Slovakia is threatening to cut off its supply of energy to Ukraine over Kiev ending a gas transit agreement with Moscow. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called Kiev’s move an act of “sabotage by Zelensky.”
In a video posted to his social media page on Thursday said, “I declare (my Smer-SSD party) are ready to debate and agree in the coalition on halting supplies of electricity and on significant lowering of support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia.”
He added, “The only alternative for a sovereign Slovakia is renewal of transit or demanding compensation mechanisms that will replace the loss in public finances of nearly 500 million euros.”
On January 1, a gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine that saw the pipeline move gas to Slovakia and further into Europe expired. Fico blames Kiev for the deal expiring as Zelensky refused to renew the deal.
Slovakia pressured Ukraine to extend the deal and previously threatened to cut energy flows to Kiev. Before Fico’s latest threat, Zelensky accused Slovakia of opening a “second energy front” against Ukraine.
Additionally, the Ukrainian energy minister downplayed Fico’s threat, and Poland pledged to make up for any deficit if Slovakia cuts the supply.
The issue over the gas shipments is the latest rift between the members of the Washington-led coalition supporting Kiev. After he was elected last year, Fico cut military aid to Ukraine.
