Payment for Russian gas is paid with independence: Zelensky harshly responded to Fico.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condemnation of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's words regarding Russian gas and warned about the dangers of dependence on energy resources from the Russian Federation.

In his address on social media, Zelensky emphasized the advantages of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) compared to Russian gas on January 28. 'For American LNG, you have to pay money, but for Russian gas, you need to pay not only with money but also with independence and sovereignty,' the Ukrainian president stressed.

Zelensky also personally criticized the Slovak Prime Minister: 'But not Mr. Fico. He chooses Moscow instead of America and other partners who can supply his country with gas on commercial terms. This is his mistake.'

The statement from the President of Ukraine came amid the frequent use of rhetoric by the Slovak Prime Minister, who called Zelensky 'an enemy' of Slovakia during a meeting of the parliamentary committee on economic issues. According to Fico, the Ukrainian president 'harms Slovakia.'

The conflict became even sharper after Ukraine ceased the transit of Russian gas at the beginning of 2025. Bratislava insists on the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukrainian territory.