Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's invitation for a meeting to discuss the halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine.
"Okay. Come to Kyiv on Friday," he wrote on his page in social network X.
In his address to Zelensky, Fico suggested holding the meeting in Slovakia, near the state border with Ukraine. He emphasized that the president could take advantage of the direct train service from Kyiv to Košice, which he described as a result of the joint efforts of the governments of both countries.
Additionally, the Slovak Prime Minister mentioned in his video address to Zelensky that Ukraine's decision to stop the transit of Russian gas through its territory allegedly causes significant damage to Slovakia, the European Union, and even Ukraine itself. He added that he does not wish to "escalate tensions," which is why he decided to meet with Zelensky.
Halting the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine - what you need to know
It is worth noting that in December 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine would not allow the transit of Russian gas through its territory to prevent the Kremlin from profiting from the war. He pointed out that any country that receives something cheap from Russia will ultimately become dependent on it.
Shortly after, Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed that the issue of gas transit is one of the five main disagreements in positions with Ukraine. He stressed that he considers Zelensky's position incorrect.
Furthermore, Fico has repeatedly threatened Ukraine with "harsh measures" due to the cessation of gas transit from the Russian Federation. According to the European Commission, the halt in Russian gas supplies did not lead to shortages or significant price spikes.