On January 13, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico published an appeal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, inviting him to a meeting to discuss stopping the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory.
Points of attention
- Robert Fico invites Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate the suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine.
- The meeting aims to address issues related to gas supplies to Slovakia and other countries via Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy accuses Fico of rejecting Ukraine's offer of assistance and choosing to favor Moscow over European unity.
- The conflict highlights the importance of finding solutions for gas transit through Ukraine and its impact on the European economy.
- The need for immediate negotiations to avoid escalation and promote peace plans is crucial for resolving the gas transit dispute.
Fico forgot about the scandals and calls Zelenskyy for negotiations
According to Fico, the meeting could take place "preferably as soon as possible" on the territory of Slovakia near the state border with Ukraine.
Such a meeting will create good conditions for an open discussion on gas supplies to Slovakia and other countries through the territory of Ukraine, on possible technical solutions taking into account the expiration of the contract between the relevant Ukrainian and Russian companies on December 31, 2024, on the impact of the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine on the decline in the competitiveness of the European economy and on the development of bilateral Slovak-Ukrainian relations.
Robert Fico
Prime Minister of Slovakia
Fico hypocritically emphasized that he would not respond to Zelensky's message of January 12 in order to "avoid further escalation of tensions."
In all my trips abroad, I emphasize the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, support existing peace plans, and propose that peace negotiations at any level take place in Slovakia as well.
He emphasizes that Slovakia loses 500 million euros per year due to the cessation of gas transit, and, in his opinion, this also affects "the competitiveness of the European Union, an organization to which Ukraine aspires to become a member."
Zelenskyy invites Fico to Kyiv
In response to Fico's statements, Zelenskyy invited the Slovak Prime Minister to Kyiv this Friday.
Ok. Come to Kyiv on Friday. pic.twitter.com/9lOSLCR7FD
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 13, 2025
Zelenskyy responded harshly to Fico's accusations
The day before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine had offered its assistance to Slovakia during the period of adaptation to the lack of gas transit from Russia, but the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico "arrogantly refused."
Zelenskyy also believes that "hoping that shadow schemes with Moscow would exist indefinitely was an obvious mistake on Fico's part."
Many in Europe warned him that he couldn't just do nothing and wait. Now he is trying to shift the blame from himself to someone else with PR, lies, and high-profile accusations.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Zelensky believes that Fico "bet on Moscow, not on his country, not on a united Europe, and not on common sense."
