Slovakia buys Russian gas through pipelines in Ukraine. The agreement will expire at the end of the year and Mr. Zelensky announced that he will not extend it.
Reuters quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying he proposed to take money from frozen Russian assets and compensate Slovakia so that the country could buy gas from another source at the request of the European Commission, but Prime Minister Fico refused. Mr. Zelensky criticized Mr. Fico for refusing to end dependence on Russian energy, accusing Slovakia’s leaders of intending to help Russia generate revenue for the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine criticizes NATO member for Russian gas
Mr. Fico has not commented, but last weekend he made a surprise visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and later said Russia agreed to continue supplying gas. The Kremlin said it was a “very complicated situation that requires more attention” but did not comment further. Last week, Mr. Zelensky said he could extend the agreement but would only pay Russia when the conflict ended, a condition that was difficult for Moscow to accept.
Regarding war developments, Mr. Zelensky said that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers suffered casualties in Kursk province (Russia) while fighting Ukrainian forces. The leader predicted that North Korea could send more forces to Russia and warned that Ukraine would respond. The South Korean military estimates North Korean casualties to be at least 1,100 people. Moscow and Pyongyang have so far not confirmed that North Korean soldiers participated in the war.
