Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an adversary, accusing him of harming Slovakia amid a dispute over gas transit and European energy policy. Fico’s remarks, made during a January 28 parliamentary committee session, come as tensions escalate between Slovakia, Ukraine, and the European Union over energy security and support for Kyiv in its war against Russia.
“Our enemy is Zelenskyy. The problem we are facing was caused by him. I do not like him because he is harming Slovakia,” Fico said during a meeting of the Slovak Parliament’s Economics Committee.
Fico has expressed Slovakia’s intention to continue purchasing Russian gas and has demanded that Ukraine permit its transit through Ukrainian territory to supply Europe. This stance follows Zelenskyy’s proposal to facilitate the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Ukraine, which Fico dismissed as a ploy to avoid reciprocal measures.
The Slovak Prime Minister has repeatedly criticized Zelenskyy in recent months, threatening to veto EU financial aid for Ukraine, reduce support for Ukrainian refugees, and cut off electricity supplies to the country. Slovakia’s opposition parties have condemned Fico’s rhetoric and policies, warning of potential damage to the country’s international standing.
Gas transit through Ukraine has recently been halted after the expiration of a contract between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz, further complicating energy security in Europe. Fico’s comments align with his broader skepticism toward EU and NATO support for Ukraine, signaling a shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy under his leadership.
Despite his stance, Fico welcomed a European Commission statement on Monday that announced plans to involve Slovakia and Hungary in negotiations with Ukraine over future gas transit. The Commission also emphasized that the integrity of the EU’s energy infrastructure must be respected by third countries as a matter of regional security.
