BRUSSELS: Slovakia is weighing measures towards Ukraine together with withholding support if an answer just isn’t discovered to halted Russian fuel transit by means of the nation, Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Thursday (Jan 9) after talks with EU power commissioner Dan Jorgensen.
Fico has accused Kyiv of damaging Slovakia by not extending a fuel transit cope with Russia.
He has threatened to retaliate by slicing emergency electrical energy provides to Ukraine and on Thursday stated the federal government may additionally halt humanitarian support or use its veto proper within the European Union associated to Ukraine points.
Talking to reporters in Brussels, Fico stated the federal government didn’t need to increase tensions however would have a look at measures if no answer is discovered.
He reiterated the halt to Ukraine transit would price Slovakia €500 million (US$516 million) in transit charges and €1 billion in greater fuel costs.
Slovakia and the European Fee stated they agreed on organising a working group to evaluate the scenario and see what assist the EU may present.
Russian fuel exports to Europe by way of Ukraine ended on New 12 months’s Day, when a transit contract expired. Kyiv refused to renegotiate any deal that may feed income to Moscow which might be used to fund its struggle in Ukraine.
Slovakia tried unsuccessfully final 12 months to have the transit deal prolonged and had checked out options involving shopping for the fuel and taking possession of it earlier than it reached Ukraine for transit.
However Fico stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ended probabilities of a deal at an EU summit in December.
