He met Putin in December. Now Zelensky invites him

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky invited Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico to Kiev. The meeting is intended to solve the gas transit problems.

Zelensky responded to Fico’s invitation for a meeting to discuss the gas issue, but set his own condition: he wants the Slovak Prime Minister to come to Kiev next Friday.

Previously, Fico published an open letter to Zelensky, inviting him to a meeting to resolve gas transit problems.

The Slovak Prime Minister stated that he “does not intend to further escalate the tension” and wants to fully concentrate on resolving the situation related to Ukraine’s suspension of Russian gas transmission.

Fico proposes a meeting. Zelensky: Okay, come to Kiev on Friday

Fico proposed holding the meeting on Slovak territory near the border with Ukraine. He proposed using a direct rail link from Kiev to Kosice, which he called “the result of the joint efforts of our governments.”

Zelensky responded to Fico’s invitation via the X portal. “Okay. Come to Kiev on Friday,” he wrote.

Fico previously said Zelensky’s decision not to extend the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine would plunge Slovakia into a crisis. As he explained, Bratislava is interested in buying cheap Russian gas and ensuring its transit to other European Union countries.

Dispute between Slovakia and Ukraine over gas transit from Russia

In December, the Slovak Prime Minister visited Moscow, where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After Fico’s visit to the Kremlin, Zelensky said Putin had instructed the Slovak prime minister to “open a second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the interests of the Slovak people.”

Transit of Russian gas through Ukraine ended on January 1, when the five-year agreement expired. The authorities in Kiev previously announced that they do not intend to extend the contract.

Ukraine’s position has direct consequences for the gas interests of the Slovaks, who made money from the transit of Russian gas to the Czech Republic and then to Europe. According to Fica, losses will amount to 500 million euros per year.

Source: Do Rzeczy

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