BRATISLAVA: Slovakia would be ready to restore normal relations with Russia if the war ends during its government's term, Prime Minister Robert Fico said yesterday: If the war ends during the term of this government, I will do everything to restore economic and normal relations with the Russian Federation. The EU needs Russia, Russia needs the EU. Every war ends at the negotiating table,
Fico added. He said Slovakia would also be very interested in" normal friendly relations " with Ukraine.
The remarks come ahead of a joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments on Monday, at which Bratislava wants to persuade Kyiv to remain a transit country for Russian gas.
Kyiv banned the transit of products from Russian energy company Lukoil across its borders over the summer, alarming Hungary and Slovakia, both of which receive Russian oil via a pipeline across Ukraine thanks to an opt-out from EU sanctions.
“We have an existential interest in maintaining transit routes for gas and oil through Ukraine,” Fico said, adding he sees no reason to buy gas and oil from alternative suppliers because it is “still the same Russian oil,” just with higher transit charges.
Fico also said that his government has been under “extreme pressure” from the European Commission to stop buying from Moscow.
Ukraine has recently given a green light to a new loophole that would see Lukoil sell its oil instead to Hungary's MOL energy giant, which could then ship it through Ukraine to the EU.
Both countries are now pushing for a similar agreement for Russian gas when a transit contract expires at the end of this year.
“If the war ends during the [2023-2027] mandate of this government, I'll do everything possible for the renewal of economic and standard relations with Russia,” he said at a Thursday press conference on a new tax package, adding the conflict has no military solution.
The politician wished Ukraine "to put an end to this misfortune because it is a misfortune for everyone."
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