Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is set to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the possibility of continuing gas supplies through Ukraine.
Amid Ukraine’s refusal to extend its transit contract with Gazprom, Fico proposed an alternative: gas transportation through Ukraine from other suppliers. He noted that halting transit would increase Slovakia’s costs by €220 million and could lead to higher gas prices in Europe.
Slovakia receives about 3 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually through Ukraine, covering the majority of its needs. According to Fico, this route is vital for all of Europe.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Kyiv is ready to transport gas from other countries, such as Azerbaijan. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned similar talks with Baku.
The European Commission has so far not supported extending the contract with Gazprom or alternative solutions to maintain the flow of Russian gas.
