Slovakia issues proposition to Zelensky
Date
1/30/2025 3:22:57 AM
(MENAFN) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has vowed to block any EU aid to Ukraine, calling President Volodymyr Zelensky an “enemy” and accusing him of creating problems for Slovakia. Fico's remarks come after Ukraine halted the transit of Russian natural gas earlier this month, putting Slovakia's energy security at risk.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist last year, criticized Zelensky for refusing to renew the gas transit agreement with Russia’s state-owned Gazprom. He claimed that Zelensky's actions were directly responsible for the current issues in Slovakia.
In response to Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine could transit gas from Azerbaijan to the EU, Fico dismissed the idea as a vague promise with no concrete plan. He warned that Slovakia would veto EU aid to Ukraine if gas transit from Russia is not resumed, and he plans to raise the issue with the European Commission.
Since taking office in 2023, Fico and his SMER-SD party have reversed many pro-Ukraine policies, including halting arms shipments to Ukraine. Fico has also been vocal in opposing EU sanctions on Russia and has pushed for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Furthermore, Slovakia has pledged to block Ukraine's NATO membership, with Fico accusing Zelensky of attempting to bribe him with €500 million to secure support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. Tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine have escalated due to the gas dispute, with Fico previously threatening to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine unless the country halts actions undermining Slovakia’s energy security.
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