“There’s no EU regulation or machine of sanctions that might impede Ukraine from proceeding the fuel transit,” Fico mentioned. “We will’t forget about this subject as a result of we all know ignoring it manner escalating tensions within the EU and in bilateral family members.”
In keeping with the Fee, the tip of the float of Russian fuel has now not created shortages or main worth spikes.
On the other hand, Fico’s executive insists it is going to fail to spot up to €500 million in transit charges it prior to now earned by way of pumping the fuel to neighboring international locations like Czechia and Hungary. “You could say it is not a lot, however Slovakia is a small nation,” he mentioned, “and we’re compelled to consolidate public cash.”
Fico had prior to now vowed to bring to an end much-needed exports of electrical energy to Ukraine, which is going through an influence disaster because of heavy bombardment of its nationwide grid by way of Russian rockets and drones. He has additionally floated stripping beef up from Ukrainian refugees in retribution for the cutoff.
On the identical time, Fico’s Smer celebration and Viktor Orbán’s executive have threatened to dam Ukraine’s proposed EU accession over the standoff.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in December he would not permit Russia “to earn further billions on our blood” with its fuel exports. “And any nation on this planet that may get one thing reasonable from Russia will sooner or later transform depending on Russia.”
In a commentary shared with POLITICO following the assembly, Jørgensen mentioned Slovakia and the Fee would “proceed discussing carefully those problems, at each political and technical degree.”
To try this, “now we have agreed to arrange a Prime Degree Operating Staff to apply up and establish choices according to a joint evaluate of the location and spot how the EU can assist,” he added.