Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that he will veto any financial aid from the European Union to Ukraine if an agreement on resuming gas transit through Ukrainian territory is not reached.
If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, driven by purely political motives, has decided to harm the European Union, believing he can do anything, and damage Slovakia, then I, on behalf of the Slovak government, declare: any EU aid to Ukraine that will be discussed in the near future will face my veto, Fico stated in an interview with TA3 television.
He clarified that Bratislava would take retaliatory measures if negotiations to restore gas transit fail to yield results within three to four weeks. Previously, the Slovak Prime Minister noted that if Ukraine chooses to forgo €800 million in transit revenues while continuing to request billions from the European Union, some countries may oppose further assistance to Kyiv. Fico also declared his readiness to block a €50 billion aid package to Ukraine if the gas transit issue remains unresolved.
Fico described the cessation of gas transit through Ukrainian territory as a “political whim” of Zelensky.
Slovak authorities have repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining gas transit through Slovakia for deliveries to other EU countries. According to Fico, if transit is not restored, Slovakia will lose approximately €500 million annually in revenue, with additional costs of €1 billion due to higher gas prices. For the EU as a whole, Fico estimates that the halt of gas transit through Ukraine could cost €70 billion.
Bratislava is advocating for a swift resolution to the issue and demands compensation in the event of further transit disruptions.
