The Slovaquian Prime Minister castigated a European Union plan to stop imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027 to deprive President Vladimir Putin of income which contributes to fueling the war in Ukraine.
The European Commission, the executive power of the block, will present a detailed plan next month.
He will seek to ban new gas contracts with Russia by the end of this year and to eliminate those existing in the EU of 27 nations by the end of 2027.
But Slovaquian Prime Minister Robert Fico described the plan as “absolutely unacceptable” for his country and said that his government was ready to oppose its veto.
He said that this decision would be harmful to Slovakia and the entire EU, because the price of gas will increase accordingly.
Slovakia has a gas delivery agreement with Russia which expires in 2034, and Fico said that it would request damage allowances, if the plan was taking place.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who continues the plan, told EU legislators that Russia had proven many times that it is not a reliable energy supplier.
“Dependence on Russia is not only bad for our security, but also for our economy. Our energy prices cannot be dictated by a hostile neighbor,” she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Fico has also rejected a proposal to stop imports of oil and nuclear fuel from Russia to the European Union.
Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders are considered to be allies closest to Putin in Europe, blocked EU military assistance to Ukraine and were to oppose the European Commission gas plans.
Fico, a figure of division in the country and abroad, returned to power in 2003 after its Smer (Direction) party on the left won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russian anti-American anti-American platform.
Known for his pro-Russian opinions, he openly challenged EU policies on Ukraine.
He should become the only EU leader to go to Moscow for the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
It will be his second trip to the Russian capital since December.
His government has faced vocal demonstrations in Slovakia against his perceived pro-Russian position.
