Protesters say Fico dragging Slovakia to Russia in Ukraine fuel dispute

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – 1000’s of protesters within the Slovak capital held banners and chanted slogans on Friday accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of dragging the nation in direction of Russia after he met President Vladimir Putin final month amid a fuel dispute with Ukraine.

Slovakia has argued with Ukraine over its determination to halt the transit of Russia’s fuel by means of its territory from Jan. 1, looking 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 informed the gang waving Slovak and EU flags, holding indicators saying “Slovakia stands with Ukraine”, and chanting “Sufficient of Russia!” and “Disgrace!”.

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

Fico has mentioned the halt of fuel by means of Ukraine will price Slovakia round 1.5 billion euros in misplaced charges for transiting flows additional on to Europe and attributable to increased fuel costs.

He has threatened to retaliate by presumably chopping humanitarian assist to Kyiv, ending help 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 direction of Russia and … shouldn’t be on the facet of residents,” 45-year-old advertising skilled Barbara Fandelova mentioned.

Fico has shifted the international coverage of Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, since taking energy in 2023 by boosting relations with Russia and refusing to supply army assist 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 12 months, 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 international ministry mentioned on Friday the issue lay with Russia and the unwillingness of “sure politicians” to chop their dependence on Moscow.