Fico makes statement after meeting with Putin
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Vladimir Putin (photo: facebook.com/robertficosk)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a statement after his visit to Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to him, the visit was a response to Ukraine's reluctance to continue transiting Russian gas to Europe.
As Fico wrote on Facebook, he allegedly warned European leaders about his plans to go to Putin.
“My meeting today was a response to the statement of the President of Ukraine, who answered my personal question on Thursday, that he opposes any gas transit through Ukraine to our territory. Similarly, the Ukrainian president is in favor of sanctions against Russia's nuclear program. With this position, he is causing financial damage to Slovakia,” the Slovak prime minister said.
He said that the Russian leader, for his part, confirmed Russia's readiness to continue supplying gas to Europe, although this will be impossible after January 1, 2025, due to Ukraine's position.
“In a long conversation with Putin, we exchanged views on what is happening in Ukraine. We exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine, the possibility of a peaceful end to the war as soon as possible, and on mutual relations between Slovakia and Russia,” Fico added.
Fico's visit to Moscow
On the evening of December 22, Russian propaganda reported that Fico would visit Moscow and meet with Putin. Yesterday, the Serbian president announced the possibility of such a visit by the Slovak prime minister, citing his own sources and explaining that the visit was an attempt to negotiate gas transit.
The Russian side did not disclose the details of the meeting. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not rule out the possibility that Fico and Putin might talk about gas transit.
Ukraine will stop transiting Russian gas to Europe
The contract between Ukraine and Russia on the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukrainian territory will expire next year. Hungary and Slovakia want the contract to be extended, but Ukraine is categorically against it.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a recent press conference, Ukraine does not want Russia to have additional income that could be spent on a war against Ukrainians. And the transit of non-Russian gas is only possible if Russia does not receive money for it.
