“Halting gas transit via Ukraine will have a drastic impact on us all in the EU — but not on the Russian Federation,” Slovak Prime Minister Fico said in a New Year’s address posted on social media.
Fico — who is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting him in Moscow in a surprise visit over the Christmas holidays to discuss gas supplies — has previously argued that the end of the deal will drive up costs for the EU and hit the bloc’s competitiveness, as well as increasing energy prices in Slovakia.
He has also threatened to take “reciprocal measures” against Ukraine if it does not extend the arrangement, including stopping electricity exports to the country as it faces a harsh winter.
Ukraine has brushed off the warning and offered its own domestic gas production as an alternative for its neighbors. Poland said it is ready to export more electricity to Ukraine if Fico follows through on his threat.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Wednesday hailed the end of the Russian gas deal as a “victory” for Kyiv.
“Putin spent billions building Nordstream to circumvent Ukraine and blackmail Eastern Europe with the threat of cutting off gas supplies. Today Ukraine cut off his ability to export gas direct to the EU,” he posted on X.
