RT reported that on January 2, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that new sanctions against Kiev are being developed after Russian gas transportation through Ukrainian territory was suspended.
Since January 1, 2025, gas flows to EU countries such as Austria, Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off due to Kiev's refusal to extend its contract with Gazprom (Russia) until the end of 2024.
Mr. Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of sabotage and affirmed that Slovakia would take retaliatory measures to protect national interests.
Given the “extremely serious” situation, Mr Fico said Slovakia would face huge financial losses each year. According to gas importer SPP, Slovakia will have to spend at least 90 million euros on finding alternative gas supplies this year alone.
Mr. Fico emphasized that there are only two ways to overcome this situation, including restoring gas transportation or requesting compensation mechanisms to cover the shortfall of up to 500 million euros in the state budget.
Prime Minister Robert Fico said the government was ready to discuss internally cutting off electricity supplies to Kiev and cutting electricity support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia.
There are currently about 140,000 Ukrainian refugees receiving support from various programs. Slovakia also exported 2.4 million megawatt hours of electricity to Ukraine in the first 11 months of 2024, according to data from Slovakia's grid operator.
Earlier, Mr. Zelensky accused Prime Minister Fico of colluding with Russia to open a “second energy front” against Ukraine. The Slovakian Foreign Ministry immediately rejected this accusation, calling it “absurd” and unfounded.
The European Commission sought to downplay the impact of the gas deal's termination, insisting that the EU's gas infrastructure is flexible enough to accommodate non-Russian supplies via alternative routes.
Yet despite the reassurances, the abrupt halt in shipments has sent energy prices soaring across Europe, with gas prices hitting 50 euros per megawatt hour for the first time in more than a year.
