Maintaining gas transit through Ukraine is matter for whole EU, says Slovak PM

Maintaining gas supplies through Ukraine is important for the whole European Union, not just Kyiv's neighbours, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday after speaking to European Council President Antonio Costa.

Slovakia has a long-term contract with Russia's Gazprom and wanted to maintain Russian gas imports through Ukraine. But they will cease at the end of 2024 as Ukraine does not plan to renew the transit contract it has with Gazprom.

"We support the preservation of transit gas routes between Ukraine and EU member states," Fico said in a statement. "Preservation of transit cannot be only a bilateral matter of the countries neighbouring Ukraine, but a matter for the entire EU."

Fico said that he would speak to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Monday evening about the issue.

Slovak officials have sought alternative schemes for transit of gas through Ukraine which would not require direct agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but have not reached any deal.