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Fico and Zelensky clash over gas at EU summit
Slovak PM Robert Fico during a press conference in Brussels on December 19, 2024. (source: Omar Havana)
Moscow-leaning Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) appeared at odds with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky during the final European Council meeting of the year, held in Brussels on Thursday. The encounter highlighted the strained and pragmatic but no longer friendly relationship between the two neighbours since Fico’s return to power last year.
While Slovakia and Ukraine continue to hold occasional inter-governmental meetings, Fico has openly expressed scepticism about Ukraine’s chances in the war, blaming the West for the conflict, claiming there is no war in Kyiv, and describing Zelensky as “a man who fears that the war will end.”
On Wednesday, ahead of his departure for the summit, Fico declared, “The West pushed Ukraine into great misfortune.”
The tension escalated at the summit when Fico accused Ukraine of threatening Slovakia’s interests by refusing to continue the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia and the West from January. Fico admitted he did not expect the summit to go the way it did, especially regarding Ukraine.
Zelensky, however, defended Ukraine’s position, citing the moral implications of Russian gas transits. “The billions of euros from Russian gas are being used to kill civilians in Ukraine,” he said, reiterating Ukraine’s willingness to transit any gas except Russian supplies. He dismissed Slovakia’s concerns about economic losses, saying, “When Slovakia says they can lose money or that it will be expensive to buy non-Russian gas, Ukraine has lost much more—we’re losing people.” It’s shameful to talk about money during a war, he added.
Fico expressed surprise that confidential discussions held behind closed doors at the summit had been presented by Zelensky to the public. (Interestingly, at his press conference, Fico alleged that half of the European leaders attending a dinner with Western Balkan counterparts abruptly left midway through the event to reportedly discuss the deployment of troops to Ukraine.)
Speaking to journalists, Fico revealed that, beyond disagreements over gas, Slovakia and Ukraine clashed on four other key issues, including Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and extending sanctions to nuclear materials. The PM alleged that President Zelensky had promised to release €500 million from frozen Russian assets if Slovakia altered its position on Ukraine’s NATO membership.
“Never,” Fico said on Thursday.
Fico also reiterated that his government has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law. However, his cabinet avoids using the term “aggression.” Fico also accused Ukraine and several EU countries of rejecting calls for a ceasefire. The Slovak leader further criticised the international reaction to peace proposals from countries such as China and Brazil, claiming that advocates of peace are being unfairly labelled as allies of aggressors.
Prime Minister Robert Fico (c) walks with other leaders prior to a group photo at an EU summit in Brussels on December 19, 2024. (source: Omar Havana)
EU summit: On Thursday, the European Council condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and emphasised the importance of further supporting Ukraine’s defence industry. You can read the conclusions from the summit here.
Slovak MEP: PM Robert Fico behaved more like a Gazprom envoy than a European leader at the EU summit, according to Slovak MEP Ľubica Karvašová (Progressive Slovakia). While other leaders sought ways to support Ukraine, Karvašová accused Fico of doing the opposite—looking for ways to help Vladimir Putin continue funding his war. (Denník N)
On the list of enemies: “According to the order of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 5, 2022, No. 430-r, Hungary and Slovakia are classified as foreign states and territories that commit unfriendly actions against the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities and individuals. Despite the desire of these countries to preserve a number of useful developments in strategically important areas of trade and economic relations with Russia, as well as their focus on maintaining bilateral political dialogue, Budapest and Bratislava, due to their membership in the EU and NATO, are forced to observe bloc discipline, including the anti-Russian restrictions introduced. In this regard, there are no sufficient grounds for revising their current status,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry told Izvestia, a Russian newspaper, on December 18, 2024.
Committee: Before departing for Brussels, PM Fico appeared before the European Affairs Parliamentary Committee in Bratislava, where he made controversial remarks about Ukraine’s future. “What awaits Ukraine is Munich,” Fico declared, claiming it is evident that Ukraine is losing the war. Fico’s reference to “Munich” alluded to the 1938 Munich Agreement, in which Britain and France acquiesced to Nazi Germany’s annexation of parts of Czechoslovakia in an attempt to avoid war—an act widely regarded as a betrayal. Drawing the parallel, Fico predicted that Ukraine would face a similar fate: “Ukraine will not receive a NATO invitation, will lose one-third of its territory, and the West will send an army to Ukraine.” On the subject of energy, Fico admitted that Slovakia could purchase gas from Western sources “without any problems,” though he argued it would be more expensive. He highlighted the significant revenue Slovakia receives from gas transit fees, amounting to €400–500 million annually, thanks to the pipeline on the Slovak-Ukrainian border. The pipeline can handle 100 billion cubic metres of gas, Fico noted, while Slovakia’s own consumption is only 4–6 billion cubic metres, depending on the severity of winter. “Should we let the pipeline dry up? In the name of what? That you don’t like Russians?” Fico asked Slovak MPs, “I like the Russians.” He also revealed that negotiations were underway regarding “something” related to gas transits, though he refused to provide further details.
Iron Stream: The Slovak Armed Forces have launched preventive measures to protect the country’s energy infrastructure. As part of Operation Iron Stream, professional soldiers are monitoring and safeguarding key facilities, including oil and gas pipelines, using state-of-the-art technology such as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, drones, and advanced surveillance systems. In 2015, soldiers rehearsed the process of repairing a damaged oil pipeline as part of a military exercise.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
Dive into your slovník: Slovak-English dictionaries can be more than just tools—they’re gateways to understanding (význam) and sometimes even to a chuckle or two.
Ambassador: Fico picks a familiar face for Belarus post—one even dictator Lukashenko likes.
Determined: Infamous businessman suspected of ordering a journalist’s murder turns to the European court to get a shorter sentence in another case.
Foreigner: “I don’t think I’ve ever had as much cabbage in my life as I have in Slovakia,” an Argentinian expat quips, reflecting on her culinary journey.
Christmas: Bratislava gets festive with Love Actually screenings and free holiday music in the square.
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EXHIBITION
Did prejudice shape Europe’s vision of the Ottoman world?
A spread-out Ottoman tent in the atrium of the Slovak National Gallery. (source: Marko Erd)
The Fruits of Discord exhibition, now open at the National Gallery, critically examines the enduring clichés of the Ottoman era while showcasing its profound cultural legacy.
Related: During the exhibition’s opening in early December, attendees turned their backs. Here’s why.
FEATURE
Many Slovaks lost their lives in US mine disasters, but a holy day spared others
Illustrative image of miners about to go into a mine. (source: WIKIMEDIA CC)
December 1907 marked a dark chapter in US mining history, with over 600 lives lost in catastrophic accidents, including hundreds of Slovaks from what is today southeastern Slovakia. Yet, one holy day saved many from certain death. Discover the harrowing conditions Slovak immigrants faced and the tragedy that forever changed their families.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Interior Ministry is under fire for purchasing 200 new office chairs at a price of €1,458 each. The procurement, totalling €291,744, was flagged by Jaroslav Naď, leader of the non-parliamentary opposition party Demokrati. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) dismissed the claims as a hoax by Naď, who previously served as defence minister. Šutaj Eštok accused Naď of using lies to divert attention from his own failures, particularly his decision to send Slovak military equipment to Ukraine during his tenure.
The inflation forecast for next year has been revised down to 4.3 percent, compared with the 5 percent predicted in October, according to the Council for Budget Responsibility (RRZ). The council released its updated macroeconomic outlook on Thursday. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s economy is projected to grow by 1.7 percent of GDP in 2025, a decrease from last month’s forecast of 2 percent.
President Peter Pellegrini signed two amendments to education laws on Thursday. The first, an amendment to the Higher Education Act, introduces changes to the composition of governing boards at public universities. The second amendment addresses the recognition of educational qualifications. It includes provisions to recognise the professional qualifications of nurses trained in Romania, facilitating their integration into Slovakia’s healthcare system.
Slovakia and the wider Central European region are experiencing a sharp rise in investments, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. Investment volumes for the fourth quarter are projected to reach €3.5 billion, with the V4 countries (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary) expected to generate approximately €7.7 billion in total investments this year. Slovakia accounts for 9 percent. Slovakia, in particular, is witnessing a dramatic uptick in investment activity as the year closes, with several key transactions driving the surge. While the first three quarters saw investments of just €222 million, the total for 2024 is expected to reach between €500 million and €600 million. The standout transaction on the Slovak market is a logistics mega deal. US firm TPG sold its Czech and Slovak portfolio of Contera logistics parks to Blackstone, the world’s largest manager of alternative investments. The sale, facilitated by Cushman & Wakefield, included three Slovak logistics parks in Bratislava-Rača, Svätý Jur, and Malý Šariš. The transaction, valued at €470 million, is the largest logistics real estate deal in Europe this year. Slovakia’s investment market is also thriving in the shopping centre sector, with unusually high levels of activity. By early 2025, ownership of up to eight major shopping centres is expected to change hands. (SITA)
The Bratislava I District Prosecutor’s Office has challenged a decision by the city’s district authority to halt proceedings regarding allegations of an anti-campaign during the presidential elections by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas). The prosecutor’s office has proposed overturning the decision. Šutaj Eštok has stated that he respects the prosecutor’s ruling. NGOs claim the minister violated election campaign rules by posting paid content on social media targeting one of the presidential candidates negatively ahead of the election.
The business dealings of Viktor Stromček, former treasurer of PM Fico’s Smer party, in Norway have raised red flags for potential money laundering. Norwegian authorities are likely to investigate the collapsed company that enabled Stromček to acquire luxury properties on the French Riviera. Ellen Eilerås, the bankruptcy trustee handling the case, announced plans to file a criminal complaint after uncovering multiple irregularities. (VG)
The National Highway Company (NDS) is bracing for a significant increase in highway traffic in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays. The busiest day is expected to be Friday, December 20, with traffic volumes predicted to rise by over 30 percent.
The first test tram travelled along Bratislava’s new tramline in Petržalka on December 19, marking a significant milestone for the city. The route, which stretches from Jungmannova to Janíkov dvor, has been under construction for more than three years. City officials hailed the event as a major achievement, with full operation of the tramline expected to begin in spring 2025. (source: TASR)
WEATHER BRIEFING: Cloudy, overcast, and misty—classic cosy weather vibes. Expect rain or showers in many areas, with snow creeping in above 800m. Daytime highs will sit between 1°C and 7°C on Friday, so wrap up warm. (SHMÚ)
PARTY TIME: Happy namesday to all the Dagmaras out there! Celebrate in style this Friday, December 20—it’s your special day in Slovakia!
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