Despite EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, Slovakia remains reliant on Russian gas under a long-term contract with Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Switching to alternative supply routes could cost Slovakia an additional €220 million ($229 million) in transit fees.

Slovakia will consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine such as halting back-up electricity supplies after Jan. 1 if Kyiv, as expected, stops the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Friday.

Slovakia's coalition government is considering potential retaliatory actions against Ukraine following that country's decision to halt the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia through its territory. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that his Smer party is contemplating a range of responses,

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticized Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of gas supplied from Russia to the EU, calling it "Zelensky's sabotage." In a video released on Thursday, he reiterated his threat to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine and discussed possibly reducing support for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.

Slovakia's coalition government will discuss retaliatory measures to take against Ukraine after it halted the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday.