The Ukrainian leader is an “enemy” of Slovakia, PM Robert Fico has said
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has pledged to veto any EU aid to Ukraine, calling Vladimir Zelensky an “enemy” and blaming him for causing “problems” for Slovakia. Kiev halted the transit of Russian natural gas earlier this month, jeopardizing Slovakia’s energy security.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist last year, criticized Zelensky on Tuesday for refusing to renew the gas transit contract with Russia’s state energy company, Gazprom.
“Our enemy is Zelensky. Zelensky caused the problems we have. I don’t like him because he harms Slovakia,” Fico said, as reported by local media.
The prime minister dismissed a proposal from Zelensky over the weekend suggesting that Kiev could transit gas from Azerbaijan to the EU. Fico accused Zelensky of making empty promises, claiming the proposal lacked any concrete plan.
“Nothing is ready, there’s no project on the table. [Zelensky] is blowing bubbles again because he thinks this bubble will free him from making tough decisions,” Fico said.
Fico warned that Bratislava would veto EU aid to Ukraine if the transit of Russian natural gas is not resumed. He added that he plans to raise the issue with the European Commission on Thursday. According to Fico, the best resolution to the dispute would involve purchasing gas at Russia’s border and having it transported through Ukraine as Slovak property.
Since his election victory in 2023, Fico and his SMER-SD party have reversed many of the previous government’s pro-Ukraine policies, including halting arms shipments to Kiev. Fico has consistently pushed for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and criticized EU sanctions on Russia.
Bratislava has also vowed to block Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. Fico has accused Zelensky of attempting to bribe him with €500 million to secure support for Kiev’s NATO bid.
The already strained relationship between Bratislava and Kiev has worsened over the ongoing gas dispute. Slovakia, which had received up to 60% of its gas through a Soviet-era pipeline, has been heavily affected by Ukraine’s decision to cut off the transit of Russian gas to Central Europe. Fico has previously threatened to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kiev stops undermining Slovakia’s energy security.
