The Ukrainian president's criticism comes as Kyiv is expected to freeze Russian gas to Slovakia as planned on January 1.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico Opening a “second power front” against Kyiv under the command of Moscow, deepening the already tense conflict over the transfer of Russian gas to Europe.
Ukraine pumps Russian natural gas through its territory to several European countries, including Slovakia, Moldova and Hungary.
But they are expected to stop the movement while the existing contract, which was already signed Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022expires at the end of the year.
Fico, who visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week, said on Friday that Slovakia would consider alternative measures for Ukraine – such as stopping power restoration – if Kyiv cuts transfers from January 1.
“It seems that Putin ordered Fico to open a second front of force against Ukraine based on the wishes of the Slovak people,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on Saturday.
It seems that Putin gave Fico the order to open a second front of force against Ukraine and destroy the interests of the Slovak people. Fico's threat to cut Ukraine's electricity this winter as Russia attacks our electricity and power grid could be…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) December 28, 2024
“Fico's threats to end emergency power in Ukraine this winter when Russia is attacking our electricity and power grid can be explained by this,” he said, adding that Fico “drew Slovakia to Russia in order to trouble the Ukrainian people”.
Slovakia wants to keep Russian gas flowing through Ukraine, saying other routes would cost more and damage transport services as the country loses 500 million euros ($521m).
Kyiv has said it will not sign a new gas deal with Moscow as the war between the two countries continues.
Ukraine's government has been forced to import electricity from several of its neighbors since Russia began a power outage in late 2022, destroying or damaging most of the country's non-nuclear power plants.
Russian gas is less than 10 percent of Gas emissions in the European Union in 2023. In 2021, just one year before the invasion of Ukraine, it was over 40 percent.
However, EU members in Eastern Europe are still heavily dependent on Russian gas for geographical and political reasons.
Zelenskyy said Slovakia currently has 19 percent of Ukraine's electricity, and that Kyiv is working with its EU neighbors to help supply it.
“Slovakia is part of the single European energy market and Fico must respect common European laws,” the Ukrainian president said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Slovakia's prime minister said on Friday his country could host a meeting to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Fico is one of the few European leaders who has remained close to the Kremlin, and meeting with Putin in Moscow on December 22 it angered Ukraine.
“If someone turns to us and wants to organize peace talks in Slovakia about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, they can count on our hospitality,” Fico said in a video message published on Facebook.
Fico said he spoke with Putin during his surprise visit to the Russian capital and was pleased with his performance.