Because Ukraine will stop exporting Russian gas on January 1, Slovakia wants to shut off electricity in Kiev. The EU is positioning itself against its member states.
On New Year’s Day, the energy war between Slovakia and Ukraine threatens to escalate. From January 1, Ukraine will stop the transit of Russian natural gas to the EU. This is possible because long-standing transit contracts between Moscow and Kiev expire at the end of 2024. But Slovakia is still largely dependent on Russian gas supplies.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico writes in a letter to the European Commission that the “tacit acceptance of the unilateral decision” of Ukrainian President Zelensky to block the transit of Russian gas is wrong and irrational and will lead to “increased tensions and reciprocal measures “. According to him, the disruption of gas transit would harm the EU more than Russia.
Slovakia is the main supplier
In return, Fico Kiev threatens to cut off the electricity supply to Ukraine. That would hit the war-torn country hard, as Russia has been deliberately attacking its energy infrastructure for months. Electricity production has now fallen to a third of pre-war levels. To avoid a collapse in electricity supply, Ukraine relies on electricity imports; Slovakia is the main supplier.
President Zelensky therefore accuses Fico of opening a “second energy front” against Ukraine. The EU is now positioning itself on Ukraine’s side. A Commission spokeswoman says the EU is prepared and has sufficient alternatives to Russian gas – for example through increased imports of liquefied gas.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
