The Slovak PM sought gas transit talks with the Ukrainian leader but instead received a document pledging support for Kiev’s NATO bid
Vladimir Zelensky wanted Robert Fico to sign a protocol promising to support Kiev’s bid for NATO membership before meeting to discuss the issue of gas transit through Ukraine, the Slovak prime minister has claimed.
Fico had sought to meet Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss the transit of Russian natural gas, which was halted by Ukraine at the beginning of the year.
The invitation was openly mocked by Zelensky, who suggested that the Slovak leader could end up in Sochi, Russia instead. The proposed meeting did not take place.
Fico revealed details of the failed meeting with members of his SMER-SD party on Tuesday.
“I was ready to meet [with Zelensky] in Davos. And what did he do? Zelensky sent me a protocol for the meeting, and I was supposed to sign it. The meeting hadn’t even taken place yet, but there was already a prepared protocol.
“That protocol outlined what we would do for Ukraine, including supporting its NATO membership. Gas wasn’t mentioned at all,” the prime minister said in a video posted on social media.
The Ukrainian leader responded to Fico’s post, claiming that the Slovak prime minister “chooses Moscow over America and other partners.”
“You have to pay for Russian gas not only with money but also with independence and sovereignty,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday. “Many in Europe have already gone through this and chose to preserve their independence and sovereignty.”
The Slovak prime minister had initially proposed meeting for negotiations with Zelensky on the border between the two countries, but the Ukrainian leader invited him on social media to come to Kiev instead.
Tensions have been rising between Bratislava and Kiev since Ukraine halted Russian gas transit earlier this month, threatening Slovakia’s energy security. Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist last year, criticized Zelensky for refusing to renew the Gazprom transit contract.
He warned earlier this week that Bratislava would veto any EU aid to Ukraine if the transit of Russian natural gas was not resumed, calling Zelensky an “enemy” and accusing him of causing “problems” for Slovakia.
Slovakia, which had received up to 60% of its gas through a Soviet-era pipeline, has been badly affected by Ukraine’s decision to cut off the transit of Russian gas to Central Europe.
The Slovak prime minister 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.
