Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated his authorities is engaged in “very intense” negotiations over natural-gas provides for subsequent yr, together with on the transit of the gas by Ukrainian territory.
“We’re holding very intense talks at a global stage on fuel provides in 2025,” Fico instructed a press convention on Friday. “There are various hurdles, comparable to political statements by the Ukrainian aspect, the strain for suspension of provides from the East to the West, proposals on fuel deliveries which can be way more costly,” he stated.
Fico stated Slovakia will rebuff strain to solely settle for fuel provides from the West. “We see no causes to pay for fuel greater than required as a result of geopolitical causes,” the prime minister stated.
“I’m assured {that a} answer might be discovered for [gas supplies] to a number of EU international locations with fuel transit through the territory of Slovakia and Ukraine maintained,” Fico stated.
“Within the coming days, together with through the Christmas holidays, you could witness exceptionally intense negotiations at varied ranges and in several international locations, beginning as early as subsequent week,” Fico stated.
The EU’s new vitality chief, in the meantime, expects the gas-transit deal to run out and says his “predominant precedence” is to develop a plan that can lastly sever all EU vitality hyperlinks with Russia. Dan Jørgensen, who began within the position originally of December, warned that the EU is faltering in its marketing campaign to shun Russian gas and an initiative is required to get issues again on observe.
“To have been in a position to carry down our dependency to such an extent that now we have is definitely fairly an accomplishment,” Jørgensen instructed POLITICO in an interview earlier this week.
Slovakia’s Fico, together with Hungary’s Viktor Órban, has traditionally opposed new vitality restrictions.
“We’re getting ready for the scenario that [the gas-transit deal] will end and … it’s another reason why it’s necessary for us to have this roadmap very quickly,” he stated, echoing the EU govt’s long-running place on the 2019 Moscow-Kyiv deal.
