European leaders are urging EU and Ukrainian officials to strengthen negotiations on gas transit through Ukraine under pressure from Slovakia.
Reuters reported after reviewing the draft conclusions of the EU summit.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico sought to mention the resumption of gas transportation through Ukraine in the conclusion of the summit, and threatened to refute the document if it did not contain the above content.
The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine is the main energy transport route for Slovakia, but Kiev has stopped operations since the beginning of this year.
EU leaders held an extraordinary summit on 6 March to discuss Ukraine and European defense.
The draft conclusion for this summit includes calling on all parties to increase efforts to find feasible solutions to the gas transportation problem, including resuming transit.
The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine ended after Kiev refused to extend the agreement with Moscow when it expired at the end of 2024 to cut off Russia's revenue.
Slovakia's gas transit to Europe has also been affected, forcing the country to seek new routes to receive Russian gas. The suspension of gas transit through Ukraine also increases gas prices, weakening the EU's competitiveness.
Slovakian Prime Minister Fico also opposed military aid to Ukraine, saying the aid would prolong the conflict.
Last month, Ukraine was forced to increase gas imports from Europe due to cold weather and a series of Russian missile attacks on its gas facilities.
Slovakian Prime Minister Fico called the move very unreasonable and that the gas Ukraine bought was Russian gas.
