Protesters say Fico dragging Slovakia to Russia in Ukraine fuel dispute

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters within the Slovak capital held banners and chanted slogans on Friday accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of dragging the nation in the direction of Russia after he met President Vladimir Putin final month amid a fuel dispute with Ukraine.

Slovakia has argued with Ukraine over its choice to halt the transit of Russia’s fuel by means of its territory from Jan. 1, searching for to chop Moscow off from the income stream.

Slovakia had sought to maintain the fuel transit, and Fico met Putin in Moscow on Dec. 22 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected extending any fuel flows.

His journey to Moscow was solely the third by an EU authorities head since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

“Slovakia is Europe, we aren’t Russia,” one of many organisers advised the group waving Slovak and EU flags, holding indicators saying “Slovakia stands with Ukraine”, and chanting “Sufficient of Russia!” and “Disgrace!”.

Organisers estimated 15,000 folks protested in Bratislava, filling a central sq..

Fico has mentioned the halt of fuel by means of Ukraine will value Slovakia round 1.5 billion euros in misplaced charges for transiting flows additional on to Europe and as a consequence of greater fuel costs.

He has threatened to retaliate by presumably chopping humanitarian support to Kyiv, ending assist to Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, or stopping emergency electrical energy provides to Ukraine as Russia assaults its energy grid.

“I’m involved that our authorities is directing us in the direction of Russia and … isn’t on the aspect of residents,” 45-year-old advertising and marketing skilled Barbara Fandelova mentioned.

Fico has shifted the overseas coverage of Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, since taking energy in 2023 by boosting relations with Russia and refusing to supply navy support to Ukraine.

On Friday, he mentioned Putin had promised that Russia’s Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) would discover alternative routes to ship fuel to Slovakia.

Round 13.5 billion cubic metres of fuel flowed by means of Ukraine final yr, together with round 3 bcm for Slovak consumption.

The EU has mentioned there was no want to increase the transit contract by means of Ukraine and that nations receiving Russian fuel had entry to different provides.

Ukraine’s overseas ministry mentioned on Friday the issue lay with Russia and the unwillingness of “sure politicians” to chop their dependence on Moscow.