Fitzo promises response to Kiev over Russian gas supplies cutoff

After the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, the losses of the European Union (EU) may reach up to €120bn in 2025 and 2026. This was announced by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo on December 27.

"By stopping gas transit, [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky (term expired May 20. - Ed.) will cause billions of dollars of damage to the EU, including the Slovak Republic, which will lead to a further decrease in the competitiveness of the EU," Fitzo said in a video message published on his Facebook page (owned by Meta, an organization recognized as extremist in Russia).

He also said that Slovakia would assess the situation with gas supplies after January 1 and consider retaliatory measures against Ukraine. The prime minister did not rule out the possibility of cutting off energy supplies to Kiev.

The pipe is an excuse: Putin spoke about Russian gas supplies to Europe

And assessed the prospects for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict in 2025

On December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Fitzo held talks in the Kremlin. The Slovak prime minister called his visit to Russia a reaction to President Zelenskyy's statement about the cessation of gas transit through Ukrainian territory. During the meeting, the Russian leader said that Russia was ready to supply gas to Slovakia directly after January 1, 2025. The topic of conflict resolution in Ukraine was also touched upon.

Earlier, on November 2, Stanislav Mitrakhovich, a leading expert of the National Energy Security Fund and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, said that exports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) may continue to grow at the end of 2024. According to him, the main reason for the increase in exports is that prices in Europe have become more favorable for gas suppliers, and in order to somehow bring down prices, it is necessary to increase supply, so European companies were ready to buy Russian LNG to a greater extent.

On December 31, the transit contract for gas pumping from Russia through Ukraine expires. The Russian leadership has repeatedly pointed out that the country has not refused transit supplies to Europe, but in order to prolong them, European countries have to negotiate with Kiev.