Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Dec. 23, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said, according to Pink TV on Dec. 20.
Fico’s possible visit to Russia is related to the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine starting Jan. 1, 2025, said Vucic.
“As I unofficially learned, Fico will head to Putin as an EU country leader on Monday, and I don’t need to tell you what reaction he will receive from other leaders, which further complicates the situation,” Vucic said.
On Dec. 16, Fico stated that Slovakia is engaged in “very intensive” talks to ensure Ukraine continues to transit Russian gas in 2025. He accused the West of pressuring gas transit and said that Slovakia “sees no reason to pay more for gas than necessary for geopolitical reasons.”
On Dec. 19, President Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will not continue the transit of Russian gas.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson had said the EU is preparing for the final cessation of Russian energy supplies.
The transit agreement for Russian gas between Gazprom and Naftogaz across Ukrainian territory expires on Jan. 1, 2025.
