Slovak MP’s Moscow visit sparks fury in Ukraine
- 23 December, 11:38
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Slovakia’s right-wing Prime Minister Robert Fico of wanting to help Vladimir Putin by continuing to import Russian gas. Zelenskiy said Fico’s Sunday visit to Moscow and his opposition to reducing Europe’energy dependence on Russia, suggest that “he wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war and weaken Europe”.
“We believe that such assistance to Putin is immoral,” he wrote on X on Monday. Zelenskiy’s remarks came after Fico made an unannounced visit Moscow where he held talks with President Vladimir Putin of Russia’s gas transports to Europe. Ficeo said the visit was in response to Ukraine’s decision to halt the transport of Russian gas to Europe via its territory.
"EU leaders were informed of my trip and its purpose on Friday [20 December]. Today's meeting was a response to President Zelenskiy's statement on 19 December, when he said in response to my question that he opposes any transit of gas through Ukraine to our territory,” the Slovak leader said.
Reminding that Zelenskiy also backs sanctions against Russia’s nuclear programme, Fico said that this position “harms Slovakia financially and jeopardises electricity production at Slovakia’s nuclear power plants, which is unacceptable."
Commenting on his meeting with Putin, Fico added that during their lengthy discussion, he and Putin "exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine, the possibility of a swift peaceful resolution to the war", and relations between Slovakia and Russia.
Ukraine last week refused to extend the energy contract with Russia that allows transfer of Russia gas to Europe and expires by the end of December.
