Slovakia’s International Ministry summoned Ukraine’s ambassador, Myroslav Kastran, on Wednesday to protest current statements made by the Ukrainian management, in response to Slovak information portal Aktuality. Bratislava has accused Kiev of interfering in its inner affairs, the outlet reported.
The transfer follows Kiev’s determination to not renew a gasoline transit settlement with Russia, resulting in the halt of Russian gasoline flows via Ukraine to Central Europe.
Bratislava didn’t specify which statements had prompted the protest, though current exchanges between Slovakia and Ukraine have been notably sharp.
Slovak President Robert Fico beforehand accused Kiev of being concerned in anti-government protests in his nation earlier this month. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s International Ministry issued an announcement describing earlier remarks by Fico as “absurd,” advising him to look “within the mirror.”
Fico has additionally described Ukrainian chief Vladimir Zelensky as an “enemy,” citing Kiev’s refusal to increase the gasoline transit settlement with Russia. In flip, Zelensky has accused Fico of selecting Moscow over the US and its companions.
Fico is scheduled to satisfy with European Fee officers on Thursday to debate the resumption of Russian gasoline transit via Ukraine. The fee earlier said that it was persevering with talks with Ukraine on the doable renewal of transit. Fico has additionally threatened to dam EU help to Kiev if the gasoline circulate shouldn’t be restored.
Earlier this week, two Romanian members of the European Parliament, Georgiana Teodorescu and Adrian-George Axinia, expressed concern over Ukraine’s determination to not prolong gasoline transit from Russia. Final week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban referred to as on the EU to defend the pursuits of member states earlier than Ukraine.
Moscow has stated it favors a resumption of transit via Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that the difficulty is business and that Russia “is desirous about persevering with this commerce.”
Earlier than the escalation of the Ukraine battle in 2022 and the following Western sanctions, Russian gasoline accounted for about 40% of the EU’s whole provide. In keeping with the newest figures, within the third quarter of 2024 Russia held a 17.6% share within the provide of pure gasoline in gaseous state to the bloc, and a 18.9% share within the provide of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG), being the EU’s second largest LNG provider behind the US.
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