Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has mentioned that his assembly with Russian chief Vladimir Putin on Sunday, 22 December was in response to a press release made by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about halting the transit of Russian fuel.

Supply: Fico on Fb, following his assembly with Putin

Quote: "EU leaders had been knowledgeable of my journey and its function on Friday [20 December]. At present's assembly was a response to President Zelenskyy's assertion on 19 December, when he mentioned in response to my query that he opposes any transit of fuel by means of Ukraine to our territory.

The Ukrainian president additionally helps sanctions towards Russia's nuclear programme. That place harms Slovakia financially and jeopardises electrical energy manufacturing at Slovakia’s nuclear energy vegetation, which is unacceptable."

Particulars: Fico mentioned Putin had confirmed Russia's willingness to proceed supplying fuel to the West and Slovakia. Nevertheless, he famous that this may "be virtually unattainable after 1 January 2025, given the Ukrainian president's place".

Fico added that in their prolonged dialogue, he and Putin "exchanged views on the army state of affairs in Ukraine, the potential for a swift peaceable decision to the warfare", and relations between Slovakia and Russia.

Background:

• It was reported earlier that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was within the Kremlin on 22 December for talks with Vladimir Putin.
• There have been no joint statements to the press after the talks.
• The fuel transit settlement between Ukraine and Russia expires on 1 January 2025. Ukraine has said that it doesn’t plan to increase the settlement.
• Throughout talks with Fico, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Kyiv has dominated out the potential for renewing the transit settlement with Gazprom, however clarified that Ukraine is open to transporting fuel through its fuel transmission system offered it doesn’t originate from Russia.
• Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine won’t renew its settlement with Gazprom on Russian fuel transit to Europe and mentioned Kyiv wouldn’t comply with pump Russian fuel disguised as Azerbaijani fuel.
• The European Union has ready for the cessation of transit. The share of Russian fuel in Europe has dropped to six%, with solely 4% of it transiting by means of Ukraine.
• On 20 December, Fico claimed that Slovakia faces a "fuel disaster" due to Zelenskyy. Slovak media reported that Fico had mentioned fuel transit with Zelenskyy, who he mentioned had dominated out the potential for Ukraine facilitating any transit of Russian fuel.

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