Slovakia outraged by Zelenskyy's remarks on "second energy front opened by Slovakia on Putin's orders"

Slovakia has expressed outrage over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has opened a "second energy front" with his threats to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine.

Source: Slovak Foreign Ministry in a statement, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Slovakia's Foreign Ministry emphasised that it perceived Zelenskyy's reaction to Fico's threats as "exaggerated".

"We strongly reject any unfounded claims about the opening of a 'second energy front' which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is speculating about, as well as fabricated accusations of any alliance with Vladimir Putin," the statement said.

The Slovak Foreign Ministry noted that "we have provided and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and seriously affected people in Ukraine to the best of our ability."

"In addition, our Ukrainian counterparts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not lose sight of the fact that Russian gas transited through Ukrainian territory brings Ukraine significant revenues that are crucial for the country's economy," the Slovak Foreign Ministry stressed.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that since Ukraine is "in a protracted military conflict", it "should refrain from creating new enemies or inventing the idea of a 'second front'".

"The government of the Slovak Republic is obliged to protect, first and foremost, the strategic interests of our country, citizens of our country and the European Union. It will act accordingly, regardless of whether the Ukrainian side approves of it or not," the Foreign Ministry summed up.

Background:

• Fico has criticised the Ukrainian government for refusing to continue the transit of Russian gas after 2024 and promised to consider retaliatory measures.
• Among such measures, the Slovak prime minister mentioned the possibility of cutting off electricity supplies to Ukraine.
• Commenting on the Slovak prime minister's threats, Zelenskyy said, "It appears that Putin gave Fico the order to open a second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the Slovak people’s interests."
• Slovakia has repeatedly tried to extend the agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the transit of Russian gas, which expires in 2024.
• Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was not considering renewing the agreement with Gazprom on the transit of Russian gas to Europe and made it clear that Kyiv would not agree to pump Russian gas under the guise of Azerbaijani gas.
• Against this backdrop, Fico paid a controversial visit to Russia, where he met with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin.

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