Russian President Putin to Meet Slovakian Prime Minister Fico Amid Growing Tensions over Energy Security and US Sanctions
Belgrade, The Gulf Observer: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday, amid rising concerns over energy security in Europe and the looming threat of US sanctions on Serbia’s state-run oil and gas company, Naftne Industrije Srbije (NIS).
Vucic, speaking during an interview with Serbian Happy TV on Friday, stated that Fico’s visit is set to take place as the EU prepares for significant shifts in its energy landscape. “As I learned unofficially, and when I say unofficially, as I said about the sanctions against NIS, it is absolutely certain, on Monday Robert Fico will go to Putin, as the leader of a European Union country,” he said, as reported by Euronews Serbia.
The reported meeting comes at a critical time for Serbia, as Vucic revealed that starting January 1, 2025, gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine will cease. This move is expected to severely impact European energy security, particularly for countries like Slovakia that depend on this route for their gas supplies.
Vucic also mentioned that Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal had signed an order to halt the transit of Russian gas, further complicating the energy situation in the region. Additionally, US sanctions against NIS are anticipated to take effect on the same date, adding to the mounting pressure on Serbia’s energy sector.
Slovakia, which relies heavily on Russian gas transit via Ukraine, is reportedly preparing to retaliate against Ukraine for its refusal to continue the gas flow. Prime Minister Fico, speaking on Friday, warned that relations between Slovakia and Ukraine could no longer remain one-sided, suggesting that reciprocal measures could be considered in response. “I cannot completely rule out reciprocal measures,” Fico stated, signaling potential diplomatic actions to protect Slovakia’s energy interests.
Vucic also noted that the anticipated meeting between Fico and Putin could trigger reactions from other European Union leaders, highlighting the complexity of the situation. “You can see how complicated things are,” Vucic remarked, reflecting the broader geopolitical implications of the energy dispute.
The expiration of the transit agreement between Moscow and Kiev adds further uncertainty to Europe’s energy future, with countries like Slovakia closely monitoring developments and considering their next steps in this evolving crisis.
