Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a meeting near the state borders between Slovakia and Ukraine. Fico announced his invitation in a video message to Zelenskyy posted on Facebook.

"The Slovak Republic has shown and is showing great solidarity with your citizens living in Ukraine or on Slovak territory. Joint negotiations between the governments of the Slovak Republic and Ukraine bring good results. I would like to continue a constructive and mutually respectful dialog with the Prime Minister of Ukraine," Fico said.

"Therefore, let me invite you on behalf of the highest representative of the Slovak executive for discussions, if possible, in the near future with full understanding of the seriousness of their work agenda," he said.

"The meeting may take place on the territory of the Slovak Republic near Slovakia's state border with Ukraine. It is symbolic that a direct train connection from Kyiv to Kosice could be used for transportation to Slovak territory, which is the result of joint efforts of our governments," Fico emphasized.

In his opinion, such a meeting will create "good conditions for an open conversation about gas supplies to Slovakia and other countries via Ukraine, about possible technical solutions taking into account the expiration of the contract between the respective Ukrainian and Russian companies by the 31st of this month, about the impact of stopping gas transit through Ukraine on the reduction of competitiveness of the European economy and the development of bilateral Slovak-Ukrainian relations."

Addressing President Zelenskyy, Fico also said that "the decision to stop gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia and other consumers causes significant damage to Ukraine itself, Slovakia and other EU members." At the same time, he emphasized that he did not intend to respond to Zelenskyy's January 12 statement, in which the Ukrainian president said he had offered help to the Slovak people, but Fico "pompously refused."

"I do not intend to respond to your statement on Sunday, January 12, because I am no longer escalating tensions. I want to fully concentrate on solving the situation with the stoppage of gas transit," he said.

As reported, the five-year agreement for the transit of Russian gas between Ukraine and Russia ended on January 1, 2025. From 7 a.m., gas transportation from the Sudzha entry point on the eastern border to the western and southern exit points was halted.

Earlier, Fico also threatened to veto a future military aid package to Ukraine from European allies. According to him, this is a response to the cessation of Russian gas transit by Ukraine.

Previously, the Slovak Prime Minister said Bratislava could stop supplying electricity to Ukraine if Kyiv does not agree to resume transit of Russian gas through its territory. Also last week, Fico called Zelenskyy a "beggar and blackmailer."

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said he refuses to make an official visit to Kyiv because Ukraine has stopped transit of Russian gas.

On Sunday, January 12, a group of pro-Russian members of the Slovak Parliament went on a visit to Moscow, where they are going to meet with Duma deputies and other Russian officials.