Slovakia's Fico considers Russian energy supplies safe, does not want to end them just for ideology
Bratislava, 25 September (CTK) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico does not want his country to end imports of Russian energy simply as the result of an ideological decision. He considers supplies of commodities from Russia safe, and today told reporters that pressure to end them was an effort to replace Russian gas with imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. The European Union wants to limit energy purchases from Russia and then stop them completely, while US President Donald Trump previously called on NATO countries not to buy oil from Russia.
"We consider Russian supplies safe. Everything else will mean higher prices. I won't engage in an ideological race just to please someone by cutting ourselves off just like that," Fico said.
He added that Russia is the second most important supplier of LNG to Western Europe after the United States.
"President Trump is doing what every politician should do. He protects the interests of his producers and suppliers and pushes everything into Europe. That is his policy, and it is working for him," Fico said.
Bratislava previously rejected the European Union's initiative to gradually end imports of Russian gas and initially blocked approval of the bloc's 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its continuing aggression in Ukraine.
Slovakia has a contract for Russian gas supplies through 2034. Since the start of this year, the commodity has no longer flowed to Slovakia through Ukraine, but by another route through Turkey, whose capacity is limited relative to Slovakia's needs, according to Fico. Kyiv, which has been defending itself against Russia's military invasion since February 2022, did not renew its contract with Russia last year for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Slovakia. Russian oil is used in Slovakia by the Slovnaft refinery, which belongs to Hungary's MOL Group. Slovnaft previously began increasing the amount of non-Russian oil it processes.
Translation disclaimer
This article is a machine translation of the Czech original and has not yet been fully reviewed. In case of any doubt, please refer to the Czech version.
