Zelenskyy on Fico’s threats: “It seems Putin ordered opening of a second energy front”

“It seems that Putin instructed Fico to open a 2nd energy front against Ukraine at the expense of Slovakian people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the Slovak PM’s threat to cut off the electricity supply to Ukraine.

Robert Fico is disappointed Russian gas transit through Ukraine stops, so he wants revenge.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s threats to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine due to the refusal to continue transiting Russian gas after 2024. Zelenskyy published the relevant post on X (Twitter).

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s need for electricity imports arose only because of Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and Russia’s targeted destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“It seems that Putin has instructed Fico to open a second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the interests of the people of Slovakia. Only this can mean Fico’s threats to cut off Ukraine’s emergency electricity supply in the winter in the face of Russian strikes,” the Ukrainian president said.

Addressing Fico, he reminded him that “support for the criminal Russian aggression is absolutely immoral.”

“Secondly, Fico’s short-sighted policy has already left the people of Slovakia without compensation for the loss of Russian gas transit and may leave the people of Slovakia without at least $200 million more annually that Ukraine pays for imported electricity,” Zelensky added.

According to him, Slovakia’s share of electricity imports to Ukraine is about 19%, and the Ukrainian government is currently working with neighboring countries in the EU to maintain the necessary volume of electricity supplies.

“Slovakia is a part of the single European energy market, and Fico must respect the European rules. Any arbitrary decisions in Bratislava or orders from Moscow to Fico regarding electricity will not lead to a halt in electricity imports to Ukraine but can definitely lead to a break between the current Slovak government and the European community,” Zelenskyy summarized.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the Ukrainian government for refusing to continue transporting Russian gas after 2024 and promised to consider retaliatory measures, SME reported.

Among such measures, the Slovak prime minister mentioned the possibility of cutting off electricity supplies to Ukraine.

Fico claims that halting Russian gas transit through Ukraine is an “extremely expensive gesture” that will incur costs for the entire European Union, including Slovakia.

“Slovakia will lose about half a billion euros for transit, Ukraine will lose almost a billion euros, and Russia will probably lose only 2.5 billion euros. We have punished the Russians again, haven’t we?” Fico asked.

The Slovakian prime minister also complained that his country would not only lose transit fees but would also face higher gas prices in the short term.

“Who is concerned about Slovakia, Mr. Zelensky?” Fico asked. “But when you need something to keep you warm in winter, you shout loudly,” Fico criticized the Ukrainian president’s position.

He stated that the Slovak government will “assess the situation and the possibility of retaliatory measures” following the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine on January 1, 2025.

If necessary, Fico said, Bratislava will stop supplying electricity to Ukraine or “agree on another option.”

Slovakia has repeatedly tried to extend the agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the transit of Russian gas, which expires in 2024.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was not considering renewing the transit agreement with Gazprom and made it clear that Kyiv would not agree to pump Russian gas under the guise of Azerbaijani gas.

Against this background, Robert Fico paid a controversial visit to Russia, where he met with the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin. 

Read more: A loyal Gazprom client: reasons for Fico’s visit to Putin