Slovak President considers visit to Ukraine, but with condition
Photo: Slovak President Peter Pellegrini (Getty Images)
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini does not rule out the possibility of an official visit to Ukraine. However, the final decision will be made after important negotiations regarding Slovakia's gas transit and an assessment of the war situation, the Správy RTVS reports.
In an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR, Pellegrini emphasized that energy security plays a key role in the intergovernmental relations between Ukraine and Slovakia.
Peter Pellegrini added that he will wait for the completion of negotiations on gas transit for Slovakia and other important issues.
According to the Slovak President, he will also monitor the war's progress between Russia and Ukraine in the coming weeks and months.
"Then, next year, we will reassess the possibility of my visit to Ukraine," the president stated.
Since taking office, Pellegrini has met twice with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although neither of these meetings took place on Ukrainian territory.
As the reports indicate, the two leaders held bilateral talks, discussing common challenges, including energy cooperation and the security situation in the region.
Since Slovakia is dependent on Russian gas transit through Ukraine, the country's president emphasized that stability in this area is crucial for the further development of relations between the two countries.
Ban on Russian gas transit
Ukraine plans to stop Russian gas transit through its territory starting January 1, 2025.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the transit agreement will expire, and transportation will be halted from 7:00 a.m. on this day.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will not continue the transit of Russian gas, as it brings significant revenue to Russia, which could be used to fund the war against Ukraine.
For more details on who and how is trying to extend the gas transit through Ukraine, read our article on the topic.
