Slovakia's coalition government will discuss retaliatory measures to take against Ukraine after it halted the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday.

Despite EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, Slovakia remains reliant on Russian gas under a long-term contract with Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Switching to alternative supply routes could cost Slovakia an additional €220 million ($229 million) in transit fees.

Poland is ready to increase electricity exports by Ukraine, if Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico fulfills his threat to stop backup electricity supplies amid a "gas spat." This is reported by Bloomberg with reference to a high-ranking official.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko also says Kyiv can buy electricity from Romania and Poland if it loses supplies from Bratislava.

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

Slovakia will consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine such as halting back-up electricity supplies after Jan. 1 if Kyiv, as expected, stops the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Friday.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that his government will discuss countermeasures in response to Ukraine's cessation of Russian gas transit. Source: Fico in his address on Facebook, reported by European Pravda Details: Fico described the halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia as "Zelenskyy's sabotage",