As the European Union prepares for an extraordinary summit on March 6, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has urged EU leaders to push Ukraine to restore the transit of Russian natural gas through its territory. Fico argues that the disruption, which began on January 1, 2025, has significantly impacted energy prices across Europe, particularly affecting Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

The halt in gas transit followed the expiration of a five-year contract between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz. Ukraine chose not to renew the agreement, citing a desire to eliminate revenues that could potentially fund Russian military actions. Consequently, the flow of Russian gas to several EU countries has been completely stopped, leading to a surge in wholesale gas prices and raising concerns about energy security within the bloc.

In a video message shared on his social media, Fico stressed the need for a balanced relationship between the EU and Ukraine, criticizing what he sees as an unequal dynamic.

"Speaking about EU assistance to Ukraine, it cannot be a one-way street: Europe [gives] everything to Ukraine, but Ukraine [gives] nothing to Europe. This is especially ridiculous in light of the US-Ukraine negotiations about rare earth minerals. Therefore, on behalf of Slovakia, we strongly demand that Ukraine is directly called upon in the summit's resulting statement to restore gas transit through its territory to Western Europe," Fico said. 

Fico further argued that the decision to cease transit is detrimental not only to Slovakia but to the entire European Union, as it contributes to rising gas prices and economic strain across the region.

"It seems that March 6 in Brussels will be fun, but until other views and arguments are taken seriously, the European Council may not adopt any resulting statements at all," he added. 

I am concerned about the @EU_Commission silence in the case of the Romanian presidential candidate @CG_Romania who won the first round of the elections. pic.twitter.com/wSg3E1dlYb

— Robert Fico 🇸🇰 (@RobertFicoSVK) February 28, 2025

The upcoming extraordinary European Union summit on March 6 is anticipated to be tense as leaders grapple with escalating challenges related to the Ukraine conflict, rising energy prices, and shifting geopolitical alliances. Since the start of the war, the bloc's energy security has been severely challenged, leading to a 40% increase in energy costs and significant economic strain across Europe. 

Fico's remarks also come at a time of heightened tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump. Earlier today, a meeting between the two leaders in Washington abruptly ended after a heated exchange.

Trump reportedly accused Zelensky of showing ingratitude for the extensive US military aid provided to Ukraine, stating, "You're gambling with World War III." The altercation has strained US-Ukraine relations and cast uncertainty over future American support for Kiev.

Read more: Trump tells Zelensky Ukraine is 'not winning,' warns of US withdrawal