Putin rejects talks with Zelensky as North Korean cannon deployed - Vladimir Putin is ‘afraid of strong leaders’, says Volodymyr Zelensky

According to the statement, the Slovak ministry delivered the Ukrainian ambassador "a strong protest" against statements by the Ukrainian side.

Relations between Robert Fico in Bratislava and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv have become increasingly bitter over the month.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has sought the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, will discuss the issue with European Commission officials on Thursday, his office said on Tuesday.

A significant part of the electricity imported by Ukraine from Europe comes from Czech generating facilities. — Ukrinform.

The statement was read to EU ambassadors on Monday morning, ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers to discuss extending sanctions against Russia, which are renewed every six months. "Hungary is delaying the extension of the bloc’s sanctions against Russia,

Slovakia avoided a shortfall in domestic natural gas supplies in January, despite previous fears voiced by Prime Minister Robert Fico following the halt in Russian gas pipeline flows

The European Commission will continue talks with Ukraine on natural gas supplies to Europe and will include Hungary and Slovakia in these talks, according to a statement shared by an EU diplomat and seen by Reuters on Monday.

The termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine was not of fundamental importance to Europe, while Russia's loss of pricing influence was a significant setback for Moscow. — Ukrinform.

Tens of thousands of people in Slovakia have gathered at squares and street across the country to voice their opposition to the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico

Kyiv refused to extend a deal to transport Russian gas to Europe to stop Moscow earning revenue for its Ukraine invasion. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The European Union Commission on Monday said it would continue talks with Ukraine on natural gas supplies to Europe and would include Hungary and Slovakia