Slovakia’s President Cancels Ukraine Visit Over Gas Transit Shutdown

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini announced that he has canceled a planned official visit to Kyiv. His decision came in response to Ukraine’s cessation of Russian gas transit on January 1, a move he says poses a significant risk to Slovakia’s energy security. The decision and its implications were reported by Slovak news outlet Aktuality.sk, as cited by UNN.

On January 1, Ukraine halted the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe, an action that sparked concerns in Slovakia, a country heavily reliant on energy imports. Pellegrini remarked that the situation made it impossible for him to proceed with his visit to Ukraine under current circumstances. He expressed his disappointment while addressing the challenges posed by the disruption.

“Energy Security Comes First”
Pellegrini emphasized that Slovakia’s energy needs and agreements should not be jeopardized. He elaborated that while he had already visited all neighboring countries during his presidency, the gas transit issue made a trip to Ukraine unfeasible.

Quoting his stance on the matter, Pellegrini stated:
“Under these circumstances, my trip to Ukraine is now out of the question. If I have to go there just to take a picture, while being told that not a single drop of oil and gas will flow to Slovakia, then I really don’t have to go there. Let no one be angry with me.”

Ukraine’s Stance and Slovak Concerns
According to Pellegrini, the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has refused to allow the transit of gas through its territory. This decision, he claims, poses a direct threat to Slovakia’s energy supply. He further pointed out that the Ukrainian parliament is considering legislation that could ban the transportation of oil to Slovakia, despite existing contracts between the two nations.

Economic Implications
The gas transit halt has already triggered wider political repercussions. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is reportedly evaluating the option of vetoing European Union decisions concerning Ukraine in response to the crisis. Slovakia stands to lose an estimated €1.5 billion due to the suspension of Russian gas transit.