Slovakian PM Fires Back at Ukraine Over Russian Gas
Why the drama over Russian gas is turning into a geopolitical sitcom.
Quick recap of the tussle
- Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned Kyiv that if Ukraine blocks Russian gas flowing through its territory, a “serious conflict” could erupt.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky sided with the Slovakian demand on Thursday, saying Ukraine will not allow Russian gas to pass through its borders.
- If the gas is not headed to Moscow or is from a different country, Zelensky hinted he would reconsider the stance.
Minsk‑Moscow pipeline deal flashes the lights on Slovakia
In September, Hungary’s MOL Group inked a deal with Russian oil suppliers, routing the flow through the Druzhba pipeline—traversing Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary and finally Slovakia. This partnership has tallied up the European supply chain puzzle overnight.
When diplomacy turns slippery
Fico’s statement last Friday zoomed into the fine print: “If Zelenskyy doesn’t let our gas through, a serious conflict could arise. Why should it only go from us there? Why can’t there be some kind of solidarity towards us?”
Negotiation frenzy and next steps
Slovakia recently braced itself with “extremely intensive negotiations” across multiple countries—an attempt to secure Russian gas that would need to cut through Ukraine and other EU members. Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Denisa Sáková confirmed the saga will continue into the coming week.
