Putin ordered Fico to open second energy front against Ukraine – Zelenskyy
www.pravda.com.ua
Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:59:05 +0200
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Ficos threats to shut off electricity supply to Ukraine due to Kyivs decision to suspend Russian gas transit after 2024.
Source Zelenskyy on X Twitter European Pravda Details Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraines need for electricity imports arose only because of Russias occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Russias deliberate destruction of Ukraines energy infrastructure.
Quote It appears that Putin gave Fico the order to open the second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the Slovak peoples interests.
Ficos threats to cut off Ukraines emergency power supply this winter while Russia attacks our power plants and energy grid can only be explained by this, the Ukrainian president tweeted.
Addressing Fico, he noted that supporting Russian aggression is completely immoral.
Second, Ficos shortsighted policy has already deprived the Slovak people of compensation for losing Russian gas transit.
It now risks depriving the Slovaks of another US200 million per year, which Ukraine pays for the imported electricity, Zelenskyy added.
He explained that Slovakia accounts for approximately 19 of Ukraines electricity imports and emphasised that the Ukrainian government is collaborating with neighbouring EU countries to secure the required electricity supplies.
Slovakia is part of the single European energy market and Fico must respect common European rules.
Any arbitrary decisions in Bratislava or Moscows orders to Fico regarding electricity cannot cut Ukraines power supply, but they can certainly cut current Slovak authorities ties to the European community, Zelenskyy concluded.
Background Fico criticised the Ukrainian government for refusing to continue the transit of Russian gas after 2024 and promised to consider retaliatory measures.
Among such measures, the Slovak prime minister mentioned the possibility of cutting off electricity supplies to Ukraine.
Slovakia has repeatedly tried to extend the agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the transit of Russian gas, which expires in 2024.
Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was not considering renewing the agreement with Gazprom on the transit of Russian gas to Europe and made it clear that Kyiv would not agree to pump Russian gas under the guise of Azerbaijani gas.
Against this backdrop, Fico paid a controversial visit to Russia, where he met with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin.
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