Slovak PM tells Zelensky "Let's negotiate the resumption of gas supplies"

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Pizzo says he has asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate over the issue of cutting off Russian natural gas supplies through Ukraine.

According to Reuters and other sources, Prime Minister Pizzo sent a letter to President Zelensky to seek technical solutions to resume natural gas supplies.

"The negotiations between the leaders of the two countries will set a good precedent for negotiations for other countries that used to receive natural gas through Ukrainian gas pipelines," Picho said.

Russian natural gas supplies through the Ukrainian gas pipeline have been suspended since the 1st of this month.

Ukraine has not extended its gas transit deal, saying it would prevent Russia from using its gas sales to fund the war.

EU member states are dealing with supply and demand problems by increasing imports of liquefied natural gas and LNG from the United States, Norway and Qatar, but Slovakia and other heavily Russian-dependent members are protesting the suspension.

Before Russian natural gas is shipped to Ukraine, Picho is reportedly likely to hand over ownership of the gas to Ukraine, changing it to other European countries or companies, and suggesting that Ukraine continue to supply the gas as a compromise.

However, it is expected that such a plan will also be difficult for President Zelensky to accept as it will inevitably bring profits from gas sales to the Russian side in the process of changing ownership.