Poland to assist Ukraine if electricity supplies from Slovakia are disrupted
Poland is prepared to increase its electricity exports to Ukraine if Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico follows through on his threat to stop backup electricity supplies to Ukraine. Warsaw intends to compensate for any imbalance in Ukraine's electricity system.
This was reported by Rubryka, citing Bloomberg.
An anonymous official confirmed that the Polish government is ready to boost domestic electricity production to address any potential shortages in Ukraine's overloaded grid, should Slovakia halt its supply.
This development comes amid rising tensions over the future of Russian gas transit through Ukraine.
Recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened that Slovakia would stop supplying electricity to Ukraine, which is crucial during grid outages, if necessary. "After January 1, we will assess the situation and consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine. If necessary, we will stop the supply of electricity, which Ukraine desperately needs during grid outages," Fico stated.
He justifies his threat by citing the significant economic impact of halting Russian gas flows to Europe.
According to a senior official, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has followed through on his threat and cut off backup power supplies to Ukraine.
Bloomberg reports that nearly three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Bratislava remains dependent on cheap gas from Gazprom, which undermines EU efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.
The publication also notes that while the European Union aims to stop importing fossil fuels from Russia by 2027, gas was not included in the sanctions imposed on Moscow since 2022. This allows companies to continue signing contracts and importing gas, provided they adhere to current EU regulations.
As a reminder, just a week ago, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine would stop transiting Russian gas at 7 a.m. on January 1, 2025, as the five-year contract comes to an end. He explained that imposing sanctions on Russian gas and cutting off Russia's ability to finance its war is a "strategic goal of Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also repeatedly stated that he will not allow gas transit through Ukraine starting in January, as it benefits Russia's military efforts. However, he has expressed openness to transporting gas from countries other than Russia.
