The damages for the EU from the suspension of gas transit to Europe from Ukraine will be approximately 30 times greater than the losses for Russia. This forecast, as reported by the Markiza TV channel, was made by the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico.
"The damages caused to the Russian Federation by the decision of the authorities in Kiev to stop gas transit will amount to only about 2 billion EUR, that is, only approximately 3% of all financial damages to the 27 EU member states, Fico commented on the suspension of gas transportation through Ukrainian territory and other countries announced by Kiev from January 1, 2025. community.
In Europe, due to the suspension of transit through Ukraine, there will be a significant increase in gas prices. The damages for the EU will amount to 60-70 billion EUR per year, according to Fico, this amount will be paid by households and economic sectors of European countries.
The damage to Slovakia from the suspension of transit, as Fico announced, will amount to EUR 400 million per year. The losses to the Ukrainian budget, which receives transit fees, are estimated at EUR 800 million. With a request to urgently pay attention to Kiev's decision to stop gas transit to Europe, the Prime Minister addressed the Presidents of the European Council Antonio Costa and the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Juraj Blanar rejected on his Facebook page the accusation of Vladimir Zelensky that Fico is planning to open an energy front against Ukraine.
“We reject any nonsense about the opening of a second energy front, which Vladimir Zelensky is groundlessly inventing, as well as about some fictitious alliance of the Prime Minister of Slovakia with Russian President Vladimir Putin,“, the Minister wrote. “The EU member states, including Slovakia, support Ukraine. Bratislava, he noted, continues to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian citizens.