Instead of entering into negotiations with Russia on gas supplies Lithuania will stand for its energy independence, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda has said Monday.

"How cheap is your love? There are those who come to Russia with love and feel gassed to meet a war criminal. This is not Lithuania's way. We choose energy independence and real market prices – with no political strings attached!" he said on the X social network.

The Lithuanian head of state said this in response to a visit by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Fico said following the meeting that he made it due to the termination of the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia through the territory of Ukraine. According to Fico, Putin confirmed Russia's commitment to continuing gas supplies to Slovakia, adding however that they are almost impossible after January 1, 2025, considering the Ukrainian President's stance.

As reported, Fico stated on December 20 that the termination of gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia could turn into a serious conflict.

Zelenskyy said on December 19 that Ukraine would not continue transit of Russian gas. At the same time, he noted that in a conversation with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, he said that if there was not Russian gas, but gas from another country, and there would be no payment of funds to the Russian Federation before the end of the war, Ukraine was ready to consider such an option.

In September 2024, the Hungarian MOL Group announced the conclusion of an agreement with oil suppliers from the Russian Federation and pipeline operators to ensure its transportation via the Druzhba pipeline through Belarus and Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.

Last week, Fico said Slovakia would hold a series of "extremely intensive negotiations at different levels and in different countries" starting this week to secure gas supplies from Russia after its current transit contract involving Ukraine expires at the end of this year. According to Denisa Sakova, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Slovakia, the negotiations will be held with the participation of the European Commission, Ukraine and EU member states.