PM Fico denies Slovakia's role in gas supply to Ukraine, points to foreign firms

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that Ukraine receives gas in transit through Slovakia, but the supplies are carried out by foreign companies, not Slovakia itself.

"Gas is delivered to Ukraine via a backup pipeline. Without this gas, Ukraine would freeze, but Slovakia has nothing to do with it. The suppliers are foreign firms," Fico said, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

According to the prime minister, Slovakia has the right to consider halting the daily transit of approximately 7.5 million cubic meters of gas supplied by foreign companies. He argued that these deliveries contribute to rising gas prices in Europe.

"These foreign supplies from Europe to Ukraine further increase the pressure on gas prices. Europe is making a fool of itself. Ukraine can inflict any damage it wishes on Europe, while Europe cannot do anything to Ukraine," Fico said.

The Slovak leader also reiterated his stance that the West is using the conflict in Ukraine to weaken Russia, but he believes this effort will not succeed. "That will not happen," he noted, adding that, in his view, Ukraine will ultimately bear the greatest cost of the ongoing situation.

By Khagan Isayev