Slovakia’s interest in profitable Russian gas allows Kiev to blackmail Bratislava, said Mikhail Vedernikov, a leading researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in the programme ‘Opinion’ on News Front.
Mikhail Vedernikov recalled that Slovakia’s dependence on Russian gas is about 98%. The country’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is focused on the domestic voter, as he understands that he needs to do everything possible to ensure that the country remains with stable gas supplies for the winter, and the country’s industry continues to work.
‘Economic growth in Slovakia is due to the fact that the country receives gas from Russia at a favourable price thanks to a transit discount. This has ensured popular support for Fico’s party. In this regard, he visited Moscow to discuss this issue,’ the expert noted.
In Vedernykov’s opinion, Ukraine’s actions towards Slovakia, which is a member of the European Union, are a direct blackmail. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to change Slovakia’s position on Ukraine’s accession to NATO by various methods, which can be regarded as an attempt to bargain.
Earlier, Robert Fico said that Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia was ready to continue supplying gas to the West.
