Threats by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will not stop electricity imports to Ukraine. However, his policy may harm Slovakia itself.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted this in a post on his official page on X (Twitter).
"It seems that Putin instructed Fico to open a second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the interests of the people of Slovakia. This is the only meaning of Fico's threats to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine in the winter in the face of Russian strikes on our power plants and distribution network," he noted.
The President emphasized that Ukraine's need to import electricity arose only due to russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the destruction of a significant part of Ukrainian thermal and hydropower generation.
Zelenskyy added that thanks to the work of energy specialists and cooperation with the EU, the U.S., Britain, Norway, Japan and other partners, a blackout in Ukraine was avoided.
The President said that Fico's short-sighted policy left Slovakia without compensation for the loss of russian gas, and now the country could lose at least USD 200 million annually, which Ukraine pays for imported electricity.
"Yes, importing electricity to save lives is not free, and this is a significant amount of money. Thirdly, for everyone in Europe, and in particular for the people of Slovakia, it will be more profitable from all points of view to cooperate with neighbors and the EU to increase the supply of energy resources to Europe, in particular gas from America and other partners, and only this can reduce the price of energy for most families," Zelenskyy wrote.
According to him, Slovakia's share in Ukraine's electricity imports is 19%. The Ukrainian government is working with neighbors to maintain the necessary volume of supply. Zelenskyy stressed that Slovakia is part of the single European energy market, and Fico must respect pan-European rules.
"Any arbitrary decisions in Bratislava or orders from Moscow to Fico regarding electricity will not lead to a halt in electricity imports to Ukraine, but they can definitely lead to a break between the current Slovak government and the European community," the head of state added.
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