The cessation of transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine will cause Slovakia losses of almost EUR500 million per year and will lead to an increase in electricity prices in the EU, in connection with which Bratislava demands the resumption of transit, and otherwise intends to take measures to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine and reduce support for Ukrainian citizens people who are in the country, says Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fizo.

“On behalf of the Slovak Social Democrats, I declare that we are ready to negotiate and agree in coalition on the cessation of electricity supplies and on a significant reduction of support for the citizens of Ukraine who are in the territory of the Slovak Republic. I believe that the coalition partners also regard the situation around the cessation of gas transit as extremely serious and one that deserves a sovereign response from a sovereign Slovakia,” Fizo said in a video message quoted by “Interfax-Ukraine”.

According to him, we are not talking about gas for domestic consumption of Slovakia, the supply of which is ensured for a year and prices for it will not rise, but we are talking about transit through Slovakia.

“President Zelensky with his unilateral decision stopped gas transit from Ukraine to Slovakia to other European partners and will deprive Slovakia of almost 500 million euros a year from other European partners, which we would receive from transit funds. The whole EU will pay between 60 and 70 billion euros in higher electricity prices. The Russian Federation will not suffer in any way. Only the United States will benefit from President Zelensky's decision by increasing electricity imports to Europe,” the prime minister said.

According to him, on Tuesday, the Slovak government delegation took part in talks in Brussels, where Ukrainian politicians raised the issue of a possible suspension of electricity supplies from Slovakia to Ukraine, and when this delegation returns from Brussels, it intends to convene a coalition council, and then vote government to discuss measures in response to Ukraine's suspension of transit of Russian gas.

“The only alternative for a sovereign Slovakia is the resumption of transit or the requirement of compensatory mechanisms that compensate for the deficit of public finances of almost 500 million euros,” Fitzo added.

From 7 a.m. on January 1, Ukraine's gas transmission system stopped transporting Russian natural gas. The infrastructure of the gas transport system is prepared in advance for functioning in the mode of zero transit and reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers.

As reported, the Ukrainian authorities Unofficially offersEU countries take radical measures to put pressure on non-returning citizens, including the abolition of refugee assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine refutes this.