Ukraine surprised by Fico’s persistent attempts to maintain energy dependence on Moscow – MFA

That’s according to the statement released by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry regarding Fico's talks held in Moscow, Ukrinform reports.

"The weakness, dependence and short-sightedness of the energy picy of the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico pose threats to the whe of Eure," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

The ministry said Russia had been using energy as a weapon for years, so against this background, the pan-Eurean trend is the rejection of Russian energy supplies, increasing energy independence and diversifying supplies.

Read also: Zelensky: Fico wants to help Putin make money to fund war

“A recent example of the rejection of Russian gas is Austria, which for many years had no alternatives to energy supplies from the Russian Federation, but eventually found the portunity to abandon them thanks to the wise and far-sighted picy of the government. Against this backdr, the persistent attempts by the head of the Slovak government to maintain energy dependence on Moscow, contrary to EU picy and the joint work of Eurean countries on diversifying energy supplies, are surprising,” the diplomats noted.

MFA Ukraine recalled that during the year, Prime Minister Fico’s actions were actually aimed at helping Russia oust American and other gas from the Eurean market, deepening Eure’s dependence and weakening the continent.

Read also: Czech FM calls Putin mass murderer and criticizes Fico's visit

“This time could have been used to resve all existing problems and find mutually acceptable sutions in coordination with Eurean partners and, in particular, neighboring states. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized its readiness to consider relevant requests from the Eurean Commission, but the Prime Minister of Slovakia charted a different course,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

The ministry emphasized that Ukraine is paying the highest price — the price of human lives — for deterring Russian aggression and protecting Eurean homes, including Slovak ones, “from Russian murderers”.

“We will not accept the shameful picy of appeasement, which has already proven its fallacy in the last century. The Slovak side should remember this better than others. We call on all Eurean partners to work together to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies and strengthen Eure's energy security.,” the foreign ministry emphasized.

Read also: Slovak position criticizes Fico's meeting with Putin

As Ukrinform reported, Slovak Prime Minister Fico flew to Moscow on December 22, where he met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

According to Fico, the visit was a response to Ukraine's reluctance to continue gas transit from Russia to Eure.

At the end of this year, the contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, signed between Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gazprom, expires.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine's gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires on January 1, 2025, will not be extended.

According to President Vodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to transit gas to Eurean countries if it is not of Russian origin.