Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Slovakia that Gazprom would identify alternative methods to deliver contracted gas supplies to Bratislava after the cessation of transit through Ukraine. This announcement was made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday, following his meeting with Putin in Moscow on December 22. Discussions during the meeting focused on energy and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The decision by Kyiv to halt Russian gas transit through Ukraine, effective January 1, has prompted concerns in Slovakia. Prime Minister Fico warned of potential retaliatory measures against Ukraine, emphasizing Slovakia’s need to maintain low energy costs and continue earning transit revenue from gas deliveries to Europe.
“We discussed a contract between us and Gazprom, which states they must deliver gas to us somehow,” Fico told a parliamentary committee. He added, “We can transport some gas via the southern flow [the route through Turkey], but for now, our reserves are sufficient, and Slovakia’s consumption is covered.”
Russia’s Commitment Despite Limitations
Fico highlighted that Putin guaranteed Russia would fulfill its obligations, although the capacity of the TurkStream pipeline and its European connections is limited. “President Putin assured that commitments would be honored,” Fico stated, noting that part of the deliveries could be rerouted through Western Europe using Slovakia’s pipeline connections with neighboring Central and Western European networks.
Slovakia, he said, has suffered significant economic losses due to rising gas prices following the reduction of approximately 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas that previously flowed through Ukraine. This includes around three billion cubic meters designated for Slovakia’s domestic consumption.
Ukrainian Response and Alternative Solutions
Fico mentioned a nearly finalized agreement that would allow Russian gas to transit Ukraine, with ownership transferring before entry. This deal, involving Azerbaijan or Slovakia’s gas importer SPP, was reportedly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the EU summit in December.
In response to Slovakia’s criticism over halting Russian gas transit, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry attributed the issue to Russia and a lack of political will from “certain politicians” to reduce dependency on Moscow.
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