In response, the EU diversified its imports, with Norway and the United States becoming the top suppliers by 2023. This shift allowed the EU to plan eliminating Russian gas imports entirely by 2027. However, nations like Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, which still rely heavily on Russian gas, face significant challenges.

It seems that Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to open a second energy front against Ukraine. This was stated by the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky.

Robert Fico sharply responded to criticism from the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, and threatened to stop supplying electricity to Ukraine. He stated this in his address on social networks.

The future of gas transit through Ukraine is at a turning point. If a last-minute deal isn’t struck by Wednesday, billions of cubic meters in gas flows could come to a halt.Most Read from BloombergMig

Mr Zelensky accuses Slovakia's PM of opening a "second energy front" against Ukraine on the orders of Russia. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Ukraine, which had allowed Russian oil and gas to cross its territory to serve Europe while fighting Moscow’s invasion since 2022, refused to renew the deal.

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Alexander ...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says nearly 15,000 Russians have been killed in Kursk since Ukraine launched an incursion into the Russian region in August. Submit your questions for our correspondents in the box below.

Slovakia will adopt harsh reciprocal measures against Ukraine if the problem with halted gas transit through the country is not solved, Slovak Prime

President Joe Biden is expected to unveil new sanctions targeting Russia’s economy this week, according to a US official, as part of measures to bolster Kyiv’s war effort against Moscow before Donald Trump takes office.

Fico said that Slovakia could halt its humanitarian aid to Ukraine, cut or cancel social benefits for Ukrainian refugees, and cease emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. He also suggested using veto power over EU decisions as leverage against Kyiv.