Slovakia will focus on retaliation after Ukraine’s gasoline transit ‘sabotage’, says Fico

(Reuters) – Slovakia’s coalition authorities will focus on retaliatory measures to take towards Ukraine after it halted the circulation of Russian gasoline by way of its territory to Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Thursday.

Fico stated in a video message posted on Fb (NASDAQ:META) that his Smer celebration would contemplate slicing electrical energy provides to Ukraine, decreasing assist to Ukrainian refugees, and demanding the renewal of gasoline transits or compensation for losses he stated Slovakia had suffered because of the ending of Russian gasoline flows.

Russian gasoline exports through Soviet-era pipelines operating by way of Ukraine got here to a halt on New 12 months’s Day, marking the top of a long time of Moscow’s dominance over Europe’s power markets, as a transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expired.

Slovakia has different gasoline provides however Fico, who has ended navy assist to Ukraine and sought hotter relations with Moscow, says Slovakia will lose its personal transit revenues and pay further transit charges to herald non-Russian gasoline. He has additionally stated European gasoline and energy costs would rise on account of Ukraine’s actions.

Fico stated a Slovak delegation would focus on the scenario in Brussels subsequent Tuesday after which his ruling coalition would focus on retaliation for what he referred to as “sabotage” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

“I declare (my Smer-SSD celebration) are able to debate and agree within the coalition on halting provides of electrical energy and on important decreasing of assist for Ukrainian residents in Slovakia,” Fico stated.

“The one different for a sovereign Slovakia is renewal of transit or demanding compensation mechanisms that can substitute the loss in public funds of almost 500 million euros.”

Zelenskiy accused Fico final week of opening a “second power entrance” towards Ukraine on the orders of Russia.