Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t hold back in his criticism of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during the recent EU summit in Brussels. The tension boiled over regarding the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia through Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky accused Fico of indirectly aiding Russia’s war efforts by relying on discounted Russian gas. “Moscow gives Fico significant discounts, but Slovakia pays for them. Such discounts are not free,” Zelensky stated.
He argued that Fico was unwilling to join Europe’s united push for energy independence or seek alternatives to Russian gas. Instead, Fico appeared more focused on opposing U.S. energy sources in Europe, which Zelensky said played right into Moscow’s hands. “This suggests he wants to help Putin make money to finance the war and weaken Europe,” Zelensky added.
It is worth noting that after their meeting in Moscow, Fico and Putin did not issue joint statements or respond to media questions. They simply cannot say publicly anything about what they discussed in the meeting. They are afraid of the public's reaction.
Moscow provides…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 23, 2024
Highlighting the human cost of the ongoing conflict, Zelensky condemned Fico’s stance. “We are losing people as a result of the war that Putin started, and we believe that such aid is immoral,” he said.
The clash underscored growing divisions within the EU over how to handle energy policy amid the war in Ukraine and efforts to curb reliance on Russian energy supplies.
