Russian President Vladimir Putin met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico within the Kremlin on Sunday, Russian tv presenter Pavel Zarubin mentioned, as a contract permitting for Russian gasoline to transit by means of Ukraine nears its expiry date.
Slovakia relies on gasoline passing by means of Ukraine and Fico has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for refusing to increase the contract, which expires on the finish of the yr.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, proven in a video posted on Zarubin’s account on the Telegram messaging app, mentioned the discussions had been certain to give attention to gasoline transit and the present worldwide state of affairs. He mentioned the Kremlin assembly had been organized “a couple of days in the past.”
The Slovak authorities workplace couldn’t be instantly reached for remark and didn’t instantly reply to emailed questions. Ukraine has repeatedly mentioned it could not prolong the transit cope with Russia practically 34 months right into a warfare between the neighbours.
Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russian big Gazprom, has been making an attempt to maintain receiving gasoline by means of Ukraine, saying shopping for elsewhere would price it 220 million euros ($229 million) extra in transit bills.
Fico pushed the topic on Thursday at a European Union summit in Brussels, which was additionally attended by Zelenskiy, who reiterated that his nation wouldn’t proceed the transit of Russian gasoline.
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