Zelensky lashes out at EU state’s PM over Moscow visit

Slovakia is doing Russia’s bidding by refusing to replace its gas supplies, the Ukrainian leader has claimed

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has criticized a surprise visit to Moscow by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Sunday, describing it as indicative of “murky schemes” between Bratislava and Moscow.

On Monday, Zelensky alleged on social media that Russia was offering Fico substantial discounts on gas supplies. The prime minister is paying for these benefits with his nation’s “sovereignty,” the Ukrainian leader claimed, adding that “this should be a matter of concern for Slovakia’s law enforcement and special services.”

He said Bratislava’s engagement with Moscow was “a big security issue” for the whole of Europe and raised rhetorical questions as to “what is being paid to” Fico and what he provides in return.

Neither Moscow nor Bratislava mentioned any particular discounts relating to the gas supply contracts. On Sunday, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba said Fico’s visit to Moscow was about getting gas at “normal prices.”

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“It’s funny how the opposition cries out for the government to stop raising gas prices, but when the government goes to negotiate a cheap source of gas, they consider it a betrayal of the allies,” he wrote on Facebook, referring to several opposition politicians, who had criticized the visit. He argued that those insisting on alternative supply sources eventually just offer “repackaged Russian gas with… overpriced transaction costs.” 
“Their approach is a betrayal of Slovaks,” he said.

Zelensky also claimed in his post that the Slovak government did not want to “seek replacement for Russian gas,” and was therefore assisting Moscow in “pushing American gas and energy resources of other partners away from Europe.” He stated that Kiev considers “such assistance” to Moscow “immoral.”

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Zelensky admitted that Fico had “refused compensation” offered by Kiev to make Slovakia “get rid of dependence” on the Russian gas, adding that “the matter’s worth is 500 million US dollars per year.”

Last week, Fico accused Zelensky of offering him a bribe amounting to €500 million ($521 million) in exchange for Bratislava supporting Kiev’s NATO bid. He said his visit to Moscow came in response to Zelensky’s intention to stop transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, much of which goes to Slovakia. According to Fico, he had raised the issue with Zelensky before but received “absurd” proposals to resolve the issue.

Natural gas is mainly delivered to Slovakia through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs from Russia through Ukraine. Now, Slovakia’s energy security has been jeopardized by Kiev’s plans not to extend the transit agreement beyond its expiration date on December 31.

Fico, who has been critical of Western support for Ukraine, has halted state military aid to Kiev and has repeatedly called for EU sanctions on Russia to be lifted. He survived an assassination attempt in May by an activist opposing his views on Ukraine. In October, he revealed a second potential threat to his life over his stance on the conflict.