As Zelensky Stops Flow of Russian Gas to Europe, Slovak PM Fico Condemns ‘Sabotage’...
...Vows To Cut Electricity Exports to Kiev and Support for Ukrainian Refugees
As the war in Ukraine is about to complete three full years next month, it may surprise many to know that, up until December 31st, there was still Russian gas flowing through a pipeline that runs across Ukrainian territory, because of pre-war contracts.
As Zelensky ‘closes the tap’, analysts suggest Europe, not Russia, is poised to suffer from the stopped flow, and considerable energy shortages are expected in many countries.
Also, the Kiev regime got themselves in a bitter fight with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has now threatened to cut financial support for the 130,000 Ukrainian refugees that it has been hosting.
BBC reported:
“On 1 January, Kiev shut off a pipeline that for decades was used to supply Central Europe with Russian natural gas. Slovakia had been the main entry point and the country now stands to lose millions of euros in transit fees.
The UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) estimated last month that there were 130,530 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia out of 6,813,900 globally.”
Fico, who has cut military aid to Ukraine upon returning to power in September 2023, enraged Zelensky with his December surprise visit to Moscow, where he held talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
Fico has called Kiev's move to shut down the pipeline as ‘sabotage’.
“The prime minister of the EU state said he would propose halting electricity exports to Ukraine and also ‘sharply reducing’ financial support for Ukrainians who have found shelter in Slovakia.”
Slovakia won’t suffering from gas shortages, as it has alternative sources, but Zelensky's decision will deprive Slovakia of $518m in yearly transit fees from other countries.
"’The only alternative for a sovereign Slovakia is renewal of transit or demanding compensation mechanisms that will replace the loss in public finances’, he added.”
Zelensky on his part accused Fico of helping Russia to fund the war.
"’Fico is dragging Slovakia into Russia's attempts to cause more suffering for Ukrainians’, the Ukrainian president had said.”
Poland has offered to support Kiev in case Slovakia cuts off its crucial electricity exports.