Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of “begging and blackmailing” European nations for financial aid in the latest public spat following Kyiv’s decision to shut off Eastern Europe’s access to Russian gas.
During a parliamentary committee meeting convened by the Slovak opposition to address Fico’s recent visit to Moscow, the Slovak premier delivered a scathing rebuke of Zelensky. “He walks around Europe, just begging and blackmailing others, asking for money. This just has to stop,” Fico said. He went further, labeling the Ukrainian president as unreliable and citing alleged broken agreements on gas transit involving Azerbaijani gas and Slovak transport routes via Ukraine.
Fico contrasted this with Russia, which he called a “reliable energy partner” and claimed to have secured assurances from President Vladimir Putin on gas supplies to Slovakia during a visit to the Kremlin last month.
“Russia has never deceived us, unlike Ukraine,” he claimed, referencing a 2009 incident where Ukraine allegedly refused Slovakia’s request for gas during a supply crisis.
The parliamentary session followed the suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, a move that threatens Slovakia’s economy, which relies heavily on transit fees. Slovakia faces a potential loss of up to €500 million annually, sparking fears of energy insecurity and economic fallout. Fico proposed alternative solutions, including utilizing storage facilities and pipeline connections with Western Europe, while reiterating Putin’s commitment to fulfilling supply obligations. The logistics of bypassing Ukraine, however, are proving to be problematic. […]
— Read More: www.zerohedge.com
