Slovakia‘s Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened yesterday to cut financial aid for Ukrainian refugees, stop exports of electricity, as a dispute on gas pipeline between Ukraine and Russia heats up.
Ukraine Shuts Down Decades-Old Gas Pipeline
On January 1, Ukraine said it was shutting down a main pipeline that for decades had brought Russian natural gas to Central European countries. It has caused gas transit to stall, costing Slovakia millions in lost transit fees and prompting anger in Bratislava.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico called the Ukraine’s move “sabotage,” but said he’s worried about economic consequences. However, Slovakia said it has managed to find alternative supplies of gas. The closure is likely to hurt Central Europe in a big way.
Threats to Refugee Aid and Electricity Supplies
As a reaction, Fico demanded cutting the financing of Ukrainian refugees and suspension of electricity supplies to Ukraine. Slovakcurrently accommodates about 130,530 refugees from Ukraine according to the UNHCR. Fico believed that the Ukraine‘s decision concerning pipelines might make Slovakia lose as much as €500 million transit fees. Slovakia wants some compensatory measures or a restartof gas transit, Fico insisted.
“The only option for a free Slovakia is either a renewal of transit or financial compensation for losses,” Fico said.
Tensions Escalate Between Slovakia and Ukraine
Last month, Fico unannounced himself in Russia, meeting President Vladimir Putin. After his visit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Fico of helping Russia‘s efforts in its war against Ukraine, stating, “Fico is lining Slovakia up with Russia‘s agenda, causing more suffering for Ukrainians.”
While Slovakia weighs its options, Poland has stepped up to the challenge, offering Ukraine electricity supplies during winter. Poland declared Ukraine‘s closure of the pipeline to be “another victory“ overMoscow. The European Commission tried to reassure the member states, saying most of them had been prepared for such a change.
Broader Implications in Central Europe
While EU member states, including Slovakia, have adjusted to reduced Russian gas supplies, non-EU nations like Moldova face severe shortages. Russia continues to send natural gas to Hungary, Turkey, and Serbia via the TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea, maintaining a foothold in the region’s energy market.
As Slovakia debates its next steps, the broader impact of Ukraine’s pipeline closure continues to unfold across Central and Eastern Europe.
