Slovakia may cut energy exports and refugee aid to Ukraine amid gas transit dispute

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced the possibility of halting electricity exports to Ukraine and significantly reducing aid to Ukrainian refugees if Russia’s gas transit through Ukraine is stopped.

Fico stated that while Slovak households will remain unaffected by the cessation of Russian gas supplies, the country faces an annual loss of €500 million from transit fees.

The Prime Minister confirmed that Slovak government officials are set to meet with representatives from Ukraine and the European Commission on January 7 to discuss the gas transit suspension.

“The ruling party is ready for negotiations. However, we have agreed within the coalition to halt electricity exports to Ukraine and significantly reduce support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia,” Fico declared.

Despite his earlier appeals to maintain the supply, Fico’s comments follow Kyiv’s decision to cease Russian gas transit through its territory. With Ukraine heavily reliant on imported electricity due to extensive damage to its energy infrastructure caused by Russian attacks, the threat from Slovakia adds further pressure to the already strained situation.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Fico’s stance may be influenced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, hinting at broader geopolitical implications in the dispute.