President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's words about the possibility of considering retaliatory measures, such as the termination of backup electricity supplies after January 1, if Ukraine stops transiting Russian gas to Slovakia, UNN reports.
Details
"It seems that Putin has instructed Fico to open a second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the interests of the people of Slovakia. Only this can mean Fico's threats to cut off Ukraine's emergency electricity supply in the winter in the face of Russian attacks on our power lines and distribution network," Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
The President noted that "Ukraine's need for electricity imports arose only because of Russia's occupation of our Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the deliberate destruction of a significant part of Ukraine's thermal and hydroelectric power generation by Russian missiles and ‘shaheds’.
"Thanks to the heroic work of our power engineers and the life-saving cooperation with the EU, the US, Britain, Norway, Japan and our other partners, we prevented a blackout in Ukraine. Now Fico is also dragging Slovakia into Russia's attempts to hurt Ukrainians," Zelensky said.
"We remind Fico that, first, supporting Russia's criminal aggression is absolutely immoral. Secondly, Fico's short-sighted policy has already left the people of Slovakia without compensation for the loss of Russian gas transit, and may leave the people of Slovakia without at least $200 million annually that Ukraine pays for imported electricity. Yes, importing electricity for rescue is not free, and it is a significant cost. Thirdly, it will be more beneficial for everyone in Europe and, in particular, for the people of Slovakia to cooperate with our neighbors and the EU to increase energy supplies to Europe, including gas from America and other partners, and only this can reduce the price of energy for most families," Zelenskyy emphasized.
According to the President, Slovakia's share of electricity imports to Ukraine is "about 19%". "The government of Ukraine is working with our neighbors in the EU to maintain the necessary volume of electricity supplies. Slovakia is a part of the single European energy market, and Fico must respect the common European rules. Any arbitrary decisions in Bratislava or orders from Moscow for Fico regarding electricity will not lead to a halt in electricity imports to Ukraine, but can definitely lead to a break between the current Slovak government and the European community," the President of Ukraine said.
Addendum
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on December 27 that Slovakia would consider retaliatory measures against Ukraine, such as cutting off backup electricity supplies after January 1, if Kyiv is expected to stop transiting Russian gas to Slovakia.
"After January 1, we will assess the situation and the possibility of taking retaliatory measures against Ukraine," Fico said in a video on social media. - If it is inevitable, we will stop supplying the electricity that Ukraine needs during blackouts. Or we will agree on another course of action.
Ukraine has announced that starting January 1, it will stop allowing Russian gas to pass through its territory.