Slovak Prime Minister Fico: The natural gas provided by Russia is safe, and the alternative will be expensive
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico pointed out that the natural gas provided by Russia is safe, and the alternative for Slovakia will be expensive.
Fico said at a press conference on Thursday: "Currently, about 3.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas arrives in Slovakia through 'TurkStream'. We consider the natural gas provided by Russia to be safe in terms of fixed prices. All other natural gas will mean high costs. Why should Slovak families pay for more expensive natural gas because of an ideological war? This is an ideological war."
He pointed out that after Ukraine stopped Russian natural gas from transiting through its territory, Slovakia was at the "end of the pipeline," and Slovakia could not directly access the liquefied natural gas terminals.
Fico added: "What is behind this policy? Replacing Russian natural gas with American liquefied natural gas. Who is now the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas in Europe? Americans."
He said that he understands the behavior of US President Donald Trump, and he is defending his country's interests as well as his own liquefied natural gas producers and suppliers, but Slovakia has its own problems.
Fico concluded: "His policy has been successful, but if someone tells me that we no longer get natural gas from Russia, then I cannot answer where we will get the other natural gas from? What will be the price? What will be the transit tax? These are the questions."
Slovak Foreign Minister Júrány Brannárl, after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the United Nations General Assembly, stated that Slovakia requests the European Commission to remove its plan to refuse Russian energy from 2027 to 2028 and to grant it an additional period to diversify its energy sources.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844264908178441/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.