Slovak PM threatens to cut financial support for Ukrainians over gas supply dispute

BBC reported the information.

On January 1, Kyiv shut down a pipeline that had long been used to supply Central Europe with Russian natural gas. As the main entry point for this gas, Slovakia now faces the prospect of losing millions of euros in transit fees.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia announced he would propose halting electricity exports to Ukraine and “sharply reducing” financial support for over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia. He assured that Slovakia would not face gas shortages, as it had already made alternative arrangements.

Fico also stated that President Zelenskyy's decision to shut off the pipeline would result in Slovakia losing €500 million ($518 million) in transit fees from other countries.

"The only alternative for a sovereign Slovakia is renewal of transit or demanding compensation mechanisms that will replace the loss in public finances," he added.

Last month, Zelenskyy accused Fico of helping Putin to "fund the war and weaken Ukraine," stating that Fico was aligning Slovakia with Russia's efforts to increase Ukrainian suffering.

Poland, in turn, has pledged support to Kyiv if Slovakia halts electricity exports, which are vital to Ukraine as its power plants face frequent Russian attacks.

Poland's government called Ukraine's shutdown of Russian gas supplies "another victory" against Moscow, while the European Commission stated that the EU was prepared for the shift and most member states could manage.