Slovak PM accuses Zelenskyy of attempted bribery – Politico

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has allegedly offered him a €500 million bribe from Russian assets in exchange for supporting Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Source: Politico

Details: Fico claims that they discussed Slovakia’s financial losses due to the halt of Russian gas transit during a meeting with Zelenskyy at the European Union summit.

Quote: "Fico said that after he told Zelenskyy that Slovakia could lose about €500 million in gas transit fees a year, the Ukrainian president 'asked me if I would then vote for NATO membership if he gave me €500 million of Russian assets, and of course, I said ‘never'."

Details: Fico told reporters that Zelenskyy’s alleged proposals behind closed doors were "absurd" and suggested Ukraine had caused harm to the EU member state’s economy.

"We are demonstrably facing a gas crisis thanks to President Zelenskyy," Fico stated during a press conference before the summit, though he did not clarify his remarks further.

Previously, Slovak media reported Fico's account of a discussion with Zelenskyy regarding Russian gas transit through Ukraine.

"We have differences on the issue of gas transit through Ukraine. I asked him whether he would be ready to transit other gas besides Russian gas," Fico said. 

He said that Zelenskyy ruled out the possibility that Ukraine could transit any gas. "He asked if we could imagine paying for gas that finances the war," Fico described the conversation.

"We see no reason to pay more for gas due to geopolitical circumstances," the Slovak prime minister stated during a press conference on 13 December, accusing the West of exerting pressure regarding gas transit.

Zelensky criticised Slovakia in response, saying: "It is shameful to talk about money when we are losing lives."

Background:

• The transit contract between Ukraine and Russia is set to expire on 1 January 2025. Ukraine stated it does not plan to extend the agreement.
• Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed to his Slovak counterpart that Kyiv is ruling out the possibility of renewing the transit deal with Gazprom but emphasised that Ukraine is open to transporting gas through its system if it is not sourced from Russia.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would not consider renewing the Gazprom agreement or transit Russian gas disguised as Azerbaijani gas.
• The European Union has prepared for the cessation of transit. The share of Russian gas in Europe has decreased to 6%, with only 4% transiting through Ukraine.
• EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen confirmed that the EU is actively preparing to end all gas cooperation with Russia, stating, "Our main priority is to completely sever energy ties between the EU and Russia".

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