Second energy front: Slovakia disapproves of Zelensky's statement, while Fico has lodged a complaint about him with EU leadership.

Conflicts between Ukraine and Slovakia are ongoing. The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, wrote a letter to the leadership of the European Union, expressing his concerns over Ukraine's refusal to continue the transit of Russian gas after 2024. Additionally, Slovakia was outraged by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that Fico's threats to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine had opened a "second energy front."

Fico shared his address to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on social media. The Slovak leader claimed that President Zelensky announced that after January 1, 2025, Ukraine will not provide gas transit through its territory to the Slovak Republic and other consumers in Western Europe "unilaterally, without any open consultations with the institutions of the European Union or interested member states."

Fico complained about the "unilateral nature of this decision" and emphasized that "the conclusion of contracts for the supply or transit of Russian gas is not prohibited by EU legislation at this stage, as it is not subject to EU sanctions, and the import of Russian gas is currently not banned by other provisions of Union law." According to him, "alternative options for gas transit other than Russian ones were presented to Ukrainian partners, but they were also rejected by the Ukrainian president."

Fico stated that Zelensky's decision would allegedly have a significant negative impact on "joint European efforts aimed at keeping pace with rapidly developing countries." He suggested that "the economic consequences of halting the transit of Russian or other gas through Ukraine had not been analyzed at a professional level and were evaluated purely ideologically."

"Although the volume of gas that is actually transited through Ukraine accounts for only about 3.5% of the gas consumption in the EU-27, this volume is significant in terms of the overall market situation and can turn a favorable demand situation into a tense one," wrote the Slovak Prime Minister.

He added that Russia's revenues from the continued transit of gas through Ukraine would amount to approximately "only 2 billion euros." At the end of his open letter, Fico stated that "the tacit acceptance of the Ukrainian president's unilateral decision is completely irrational and wrong, and will lead to tensions and retaliatory measures."

"I also express the belief that it is in the interest of all EU citizens that European efforts to support Ukraine should be rational, rather than in the form of self-destructive and extremely harmful gestures for the EU. For this reason, I would also like to ask you, not only on behalf of the Slovak Republic but, above all, on behalf of the entire European Union, to pay due attention to this unprecedented situation and prioritize it," the letter stated.

Scandal Over Threats to Halt Electricity Supplies to Ukraine

Against the backdrop of Fico's letter, a statement from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation with electricity supply also emerged. The ministry stated that they perceive Zelensky's reaction to Fico's threats as "exaggerated."

"We firmly reject any unfounded claims about the opening of a "second energy front," as speculated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as fabricated accusations of any alliance with Vladimir Putin," the statement read.

The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that they have provided and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as much as possible. The ministry emphasized that since Ukraine "is in a prolonged military conflict," it "should refrain from creating new adversaries or inventing the idea of a 'second front.'

"The government of the Slovak Republic is obliged to protect primarily the strategic interests of our country, our citizens, and the European Union. It will act accordingly, regardless of whether the Ukrainian side approves it or not," the ministry concluded.

It should be noted that after a visit to Moscow, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country may stop supplying electricity to Ukraine. In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that "Putin tasked Fico with opening a second energy front against Ukraine."

Ukraine has called on the European Commission to respond to Fico's blackmail. Meanwhile, the Slovak General Prosecutor's Office announced on December 27 its decision to conduct a legality check on the trip of pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico to Russia.