Ukraine and Slovakia Clash Over Russian Gas Transit and Electricity Supplies

Kyiv's decision to end Russian gas transit sparks threats from Slovakia, raising tensions over energy security and European unity.

Ukraine has confirmed it will halt Russian natural gas transit through its territory starting January 1, 2025, as the current contract with Gazprom expires.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation, citing potential economic harm to Slovakia from the gas transit halt.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Fico of aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin to create a 'second energy front' against Ukraine, undermining European solidarity.
Ukraine has called on the European Commission to intervene, emphasizing that Slovakia's threats violate European energy market regulations and that Ukraine pays for its electricity imports, which account for 19% of its power needs.
Fico, who recently met with Putin, has also proposed Slovakia as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, though tensions over energy disputes may complicate such efforts.