Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned of “reciprocal measures” against Ukraine after the country blocked the transit of Russian gas, stating that the European Union, not Russia, will bear the consequences. In a New Year’s address, Fico argued that halting gas transit through Ukraine will drastically impact the EU while leaving Russia relatively unscathed.
During the Christmas holidays, Fico held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow regarding gas supplies. Previously, he had claimed that terminating the gas transit agreement would raise costs for the EU, harm the Union’s competitiveness, and lead to increased energy prices in Slovakia.
Fico’s proposed retaliatory measures include halting electricity exports to Ukraine, which is already grappling with a severe winter. “If Ukraine fails to extend the agreement, Slovakia will take the necessary steps to protect its energy security,” Fico emphasized.
Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski praised Ukraine’s decision to end the gas transit arrangement, describing it as a victory for Kyiv. “Putin spent billions building Nord Stream to bypass Ukraine and blackmail Eastern Europe by threatening gas cuts. Today, Ukraine has denied him the ability to export gas directly to the EU,” Sikorski declared.
This development marks another chapter in the geopolitical tug-of-war over energy supplies, with significant implications for the EU’s energy stability and the broader regional power dynamics.
