Fitzo called his visit to Russia a reaction to Zelensky's words about banning gas transit

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo said on December 22 that his visit to Moscow was a reaction to a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired on May 20, that he was against any gas transit through Ukrainian territory.

"My meeting today was a reaction to the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said on Thursday in response to my question that he was against any gas transit through Ukraine," Fitzo said in a Facebook post (part of Meta, recognized as an extremist organization and banned in Russia).

He specified that Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the meeting that Russia was ready to supply gas to Slovakia directly after January 1, 2025.

Fitzo added that during the meeting the topic of the early settlement of the Ukrainian conflict was touched upon. The Slovak Prime Minister also stated his readiness to assist in this matter.

Long gas pipelines: Russia and Ukraine do not negotiate to extend transit to Europe

How the interruption of blue fuel supplies will affect the EU countries and whether they have any alternatives left

Earlier in the day it was reported that Putin holds talks in the Kremlin with Fitzo. Then Peskov clarified that the visit of the Slovak Prime Minister was planned several days before.

Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the talks between Putin and Fitzo had ended. He also specified that joint statements by Putin and Fitzo for the media were not planned.

On December 20, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the Slovak prime minister would soon meet with the Russian president over Ukraine 's refusal to transit gas through the country. On the same day, Vucic said that Russia had agreed with Serbia and Hungary on the issue of payment for gas supplies through Bulgaria.

Also on December 20, Fitzo said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would agree to transit Russian gas through Ukraine if Western countries do not pay Russia for the fuel until the conflict ends. The Slovakian prime minister called this condition absurd, because no one will supply gas for free, and Ukraine thus completely excludes the possibility of transit.

The current five-year contract between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz was concluded at the end of 2019. Deliveries began on January 1, 2020. This contract expires at the end of 2024. The Ukrainian side continues to refuse to extend the agreement. The Russian leadership has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that Russia did not refuse transit gas supplies to Europe.