Moscow, Dec 23 (NationPress) Russian President Vladimir Putin has engaged in discussions with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was in Moscow for a working visit, as confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The meeting had been scheduled a few days earlier, and both leaders participated in a private dialogue, Peskov noted during an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a journalist from Russia's state TV and radio company VGTRK, on Sunday. The agenda included deliberations on international matters and the transit of Russian gas, according to the Xinhua news agency.

In the meantime, Fico remarked that this meeting was a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who recently expressed opposition to any gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia during a European Union summit in Brussels.

Putin reiterated Russia's willingness to maintain gas supplies to the West and to Slovakia, as stated by the Slovak prime minister. However, he cautioned that after January 1, 2025, when the current contract concludes, it would be nearly impossible due to Zelensky's stance.

Top EU officials were briefed about the purpose of Fico's trip on Friday, as he mentioned.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine would cease the transit of Russian gas through its territory starting on January 1, 2025.

The possibility of resuming gas transit would only arise at the request of the European Commission and if Ukraine were to transport non-Russian gas, as reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, quoting Shmyhal.

It is worth noting that Ukraine was previously a vital transit route for Russian gas shipments to Europe.

Slovakia relies on gas flowing through Ukraine, and Fico has criticized President Zelensky for rejecting an extension of the contract, which is set to expire by year-end. Peskov, featured in a video shared on Zarubin's account on the Telegram messaging app, indicated that discussions would certainly center on gas transit and the current global scenario.

The Slovak government office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did it reply to emailed inquiries. Ukraine has consistently stated that it would not prolong the transit agreement with Russia, amid a conflict that has lasted nearly 34 months.

Slovakia, which maintains a long-term contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom, has been striving to continue receiving gas via Ukraine, emphasizing that purchasing gas from alternative sources could incur an additional 220 million euros (approximately $229 million) in transit costs.

On Thursday, President Zelensky announced that Kyiv would not extend its five-year gas transportation agreement with Russia, which is due to lapse at the end of 2024. This decision has sparked concerns for Slovakia, which has established a long-term contract with Gazprom.