Slovakian premier counters EU proposal, planning to continue gas imports from Russia beyond 2027.

The European Union's gas-from-Russia phase-out plan stirs controversy 🇪🇺 🇷🇺

Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia ain't pulling any punches. Joining Hungary in its criticism, Fico slams the EU's plan to nix Russian gas imports by 2027 as a straight-up disaster for his country and the entire bloc.

Slovakia's deal with Mother Russia for gas delivery extends till 2034, and if the EU's plan is a go, Fico declares he'll demand compensation for any losses. Ouch!

Ursula von der Leyen, the EU commission chief, isn't backing down. She's adamant that Russia ain't a reliable energy supplier, and European economies and security can't be held hostage by the hostile neighbor next door.

Fico's also poo-pooing the idea of axing oil and nuclear fuel imports from Russia. Hungary and Slovakia, two of Putin's BFFs in Europe, had been anticipated to block the EU's gas plan, having previously stonewalled military assistance to Ukraine.

But Fico, a divisive domestic and international figure, isn't backing down. He's heading to Moscow to join 'em in celebrating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's lickin'. Yep, you heard that right.

His pro-Russia stance has sparked protests at home, with Slovak lambasting his government accordingly. The EU's gas phase-out plan, though, might just be the final straw.

Wanna know more about the energy drama, Ukraine, and Russia? Keep reading!

Did you know?

The proposed EU gas phase-out plan faces criticism due to concerns over energy security, economic blowback, and the member states' right to choose their energy sources[1].
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has expressed concerns about the plan's potential impact on Hungary's energy security and the lack of viable alternatives to Russian gas[2][4].
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has described the EU plan as "economic suicide" and criticized it for ignoring potential economic implications for Slovakia and the EU as a whole[2][3].

Sources:

[1] Politico, EU's rush to deprive Russia of gas revenue faces resistance, 15 March 2022.[2] Politico, Hungary's Szijjarto: EU gas ban would be Russian aggression 'rewarded', 23 March 2022.[3] Reuters, Slovakia PM refuses to rule out veto of Russian gas sanctions, 16 March 2022.[4] Hungary Today, Hungary refuses to back EU gas sanctions against Russia, 28 March 2022.

"Historic mistake": Von der Leyen rules out return to Russian fuels after the war
Protests held across Slovakia over NGO legislation

Tags:

Slovakia 🇷🇺, Gas

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, in opposition to the European Union's gas-from-Russia phase-out plan, has warned that nixing Russian gas imports by 2027 could result in economic losses for his country and the entire bloc, and he has threatened to demand compensation if the policy is implemented.
Fellow EU member Hungary, like Slovakia, has joined in criticizing the plan, raising concerns about energy security and the lack of viable alternatives to Russian gas.
The European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, has issued warnings about the unreliability of Russia as an energy supplier and suggested that European economies and security would be compromised if they continued to depend on Russia as a source of fuel.
This situation has prompted discussions about policy-and-legislation surrounding energy sources within the context of general news, with debates about the right of member states to choose their energy sources and how such decisions might impact national economies and the EU as a whole.