Slovak PM Fico to meet with European Commission President on gas transit through Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
The Slovak prime minister will discuss alternative ways of supplying gas through Ukraine with the head of the European Commission.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday to discuss his hopes for continued gas supplies through Ukraine, Fico said on Wednesday, UNN reports citing Reuters.
Details
Fico told the parliamentary committee that although the Ukrainian government rejected the extension of the transit contract with Russia's Gazprom amid the war between the two countries, alternative solutions to keep the gas route open next year are possible.
Slovakia has a long-term contract with Gazprom, and it wants to continue receiving Russian gas through Ukraine, saying that buying gas elsewhere would cost the country 220 million euros ($231 million) more in transit and could also raise the price of gas in Europe, the newspaper writes.
"I take into account the decision of the Ukrainian government that they do not want to extend the contract with Gazprom," Fico told the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs. - "But this does not mean that we cannot receive gas from the East.
We have a solution... Ukraine will not transit Russian gas, but will transit gas owned by someone else
Fico said that Slovakia needs the support of the European Commission for such arrangements, and he will discuss them with von der Leyen.
However, the European Commission reiterated on Tuesday that it does not support the extension of the contract or any other decision that would maintain Russian gas supplies.
Slovakia takes about 3 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Gazprom through Ukraine, covering most of its demand.
Fico said that total supplies through Ukraine could remain at around 14-15 billion cubic meters. This volume includes gas that goes to Austria as well as the Czech Republic.
