Slovakia summons Ukrainian envoy amid gas transit dispute “`

Slovakia and Ukraine’s dispute over Russian gas transit intensifies

Slovakia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Myroslav Kastran on Wednesday to protest recent statements by Ukrainian officials, according to Slovak news outlet Aktuality. Bratislava alleges Kiev is interfering in its domestic affairs.

This action follows Ukraine’s decision to terminate its gas transit agreement with Russia, halting Russian gas flows to Central Europe through Ukraine.

While Bratislava didn’t specify the statements prompting the protest, recent Slovakia-Ukraine exchanges have been notably strained.

Slovak President Robert Fico accused Kiev of involvement in recent anti-government protests. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded by calling Fico’s remarks “absurd” and suggesting he should “look in the mirror.”

Fico further labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an “enemy” due to Kiev’s refusal to extend the gas transit agreement. Zelensky, in response, accused Fico of prioritizing Moscow over the US and its allies.

Fico is scheduled to meet with European Commission officials on Thursday to discuss resuming Russian gas transit. The Commission continues talks with Ukraine regarding a potential renewal of the transit agreement. Fico has threatened to block EU aid to Ukraine if gas flows aren’t restored.

Romanian MEPs Georgiana Teodorescu and Adrian-George Axinia recently voiced concerns over Ukraine’s decision. Last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the EU to protect member states’ interests against Ukraine.

Moscow has expressed support for resuming transit through Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating it’s a commercial matter and Russia “is interested in continuing this commerce.”

Before the 2022 escalation of the Ukraine conflict and subsequent Western sanctions, Russian gas supplied approximately 40% of the EU’s total gas needs. Recent data shows Russia held a 17.6% share of the EU’s natural gas supply in the third quarter of 2024 and an 18.9% share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, making it the EU’s second-largest LNG supplier after the US.