It's just that the one who pushed the EU and Ukraine into that mood was Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico with his surprise trip to Russia and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Slovakia is a member of the EU and NATO, which means it is an ally of Ukraine in the nearly three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as in the Western bloc's rivalry with Russia in support of Ukraine.
Mr Fico returned to power in Slovakia last year and immediately stopped financial and military aid to Ukraine.
Slovakia is currently completely dependent on Russian gas supplies, which are delivered via pipelines through Ukraine. The agreement between Russia and Ukraine on gas transit expires at the end of this year and Ukraine has not agreed to extend it because it does not want Russia to continue to benefit from gas supplies to Slovakia.
The EU has imposed an embargo on Russian gas exports but has made an exception for Slovakia. Mr Fico proposed extending the transit of gas through Ukraine, but Ukraine refused. He then went to Russia.
From the perspective of Slovakia’s own national interests, Mr. Fico must find a way to maintain Russian gas imports until alternative supplies are available. The EU embargo on Russian gas does not replace Russian gas supplies to Ukraine.
Ukraine wants Slovakia's support against Russia but does not pay due attention to Slovakia's practical interests and dilemma.
Therefore, Mr. Fico's actions according to the motto "for the benefit of Slovakia first, for the allies later" are mandatory and cannot be otherwise.
Mr. Fico, who has a fairly close relationship with Mr. Putin, is not really on the same page with the Western bloc in relations with Russia and on the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Putin courted Mr Fico with a pledge that Russia would supply gas to Slovakia in other ways and supported Mr Fico's proposal to use Slovakia as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, although it is not yet clear when those talks will take place.
In this gas issue, Mr. Fico found a solution for Slovakia but helped Mr. Putin benefit more, while Ukraine and the EU suffered more.
