MFA of Ukraine calls decision of Fico's government to terminate energy agreement with Ukraine 'shot in its foot' for Slovak businesses

The Slovak side's intention to terminate the contract for the supply of emergency electricity to Ukraine will harm Slovakia's business sector, as Ukraine purchases this electricity rather than receiving it for free.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated this in response to journalists' inquiries, Ukrinform reports.

Tykhyi described Bratislava's actions to terminate the contract for emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine as "preparing to shoot their own energy companies in the foot."

"Ukraine purchases this electricity rather than receiving it free of charge, so Fico's government will simply deprive Slovak companies of revenue, while Ukraine will obtain this electricity from other sources. There is only one explanation for such strange intentions: for Fico, it is not about the citizens of Slovakia, but about preserving his economic ties with the Russian Federation even at the cost of harming Slovak business," he noted.

He also recalled that Prime Minister Fico continues to refuse a meeting in Ukraine that had been proposed to him by President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to resolve problematic issues.

"This proposal from the Ukrainian side remains valid," Tykhyi emphasized.

As reported, the Slovak government on Wednesday, March 4, approved the termination of the agreement between the Slovak electricity transmission system operator SEPS and Ukraine regarding emergency electricity supplies.

Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine starting February 23.

However, Ukrenergo stated that the possible termination of emergency electricity supplies from Slovakia would not affect the situation in Ukraine's unified energy system, noting that the last time Ukraine requested emergency assistance from Slovakia was more than a month ago and in a very limited volume.