RT reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Kremlin on December 22, marking one of the rare visits of European Union (EU) leaders to Moscow since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.
The meeting comes as a gas transit contract from Russia via Ukraine to Europe is about to expire, raising concerns about Slovakia's gas supply.
Slovakia is heavily dependent on Russian gas via Ukraine. With the current contract ending on December 31, 2024, Prime Minister Fico criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to extend the deal. This move puts Slovakia at risk of having to spend an additional €220 million to find alternative supplies if it cannot maintain gas flows through Ukraine from 2025.
In a Facebook post after meeting with President Putin, Mr. Fico affirmed that he had informed senior EU officials about this trip in advance. He also revealed that President Zelensky has opposed any form of gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed (the Russian Federation) is ready to continue supplying gas to the West and Slovakia, which is almost impossible after January 1, 2025 due to the position of the Ukrainian President, said Mr. Fico.
This is the third visit by an EU leader to Moscow since the conflict broke out. German Prime Minister Karl Nehammer had previously visited Russia in April 2022, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Putin in July 2023, despite criticism from EU allies.
This time, Russian television broadcast Mr. Fico shaking hands with Mr. Putin during a meeting scheduled just a few days ago. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders discussed the military situation in Ukraine, the opportunity to end the conflict peacefully and the Russia-Slovakia relationship that Mr. Fico wants to normalise.
Slovakia is not the only country facing an energy problem as the transit route through Ukraine is at risk of being cut off. Hungary has found an alternative via the TurkStream pipeline running under the Black Sea. However, Slovakia, along with Moldova and the breakaway region of Transdniestria, is in a difficult position as it has to find gas supplies from other sources at higher prices.
Moldova, Moldova's gas company, has asked Gazprom to transfer gas via TurkStream and routes through Bulgaria and Romania, but has not yet reached an agreement. This means that the breakaway region of Transdniestria will face higher gas prices.
The gas issue was brought up at last week's EU summit, where Zelensky reiterated his stance of not continuing the transit of Russian gas. This puts great pressure on member countries such as Slovakia and Hungary, which depend on Russian energy but face complex political rules in the EU.
Mr. Fico's meeting with Mr. Putin shows the increasingly clear differentiation in the EU in the approach to Russia, especially when direct economic and energy benefits are under threat. This visit may not only be an effort to solve Slovakia's energy problem but also reflect a strategic step in reshaping relations between some EU countries and Russia.
