The Kremlin called European gas shipments extremely complicated and requiring increased attention on Monday, a day after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held a surprise conference with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to talk about energy and the war in Ukraine.Fico stated his surprise check out to Moscow Sundaywas in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telling EU leaders that Kyiv remains opposed to Russian gas transiting through its territory.
The Slovak prime minister is only the thirdWestern leader to have actually met Putin following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Ukraine has said it will not renew its gas transit arrangement with Russia when it expires in January 2025.
Ficowarned that sourcing gas from alternative paths would cost Slovakia an extra 220 million euros ($228.7 million) in transit fees.When asked whether Russia can supply gas to Slovakia after the end of transit through Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed press reporters that the scenario was extremely complex and needs increased attention.You heard the statement from the Ukrainian side, and you know the position of those European countries that continue to purchase Russian gas which consider this needed for the typical operation of their economies, Peskov was priced estimate as stating by the state-run news company TASS.He declined to provide details of Ficos conference with Putin, saying only that the talks discussed bilateral relations, the war in Ukraine and gas shipments.Turkey and Hungary, both heavily dependent on Russian gas, said last week that they got waivers from U.S.
sanctions on Gazprombank to allow continued energy payments.
Nevertheless, Slovakias state-owned gas buyer SPP has not received any alert of a comparable exemption, according to Reuters.