Gaspar: Coalition Legislators to Visit Russia, Discuss Gas and War in Ukraine

Bratislava, January 10 (TASR) - During its upcoming visit to Moscow, the Slovak delegation would like to discuss the supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia as well as Russia's stance on the options to end the war in Ukraine, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) announced on Friday. Gaspar added that if the trip to Ukraine's capital Kiev had been planed at a different date, he would have participated in it, but the dates of the two trips collide in a schedule conflict. "I'll be glad if leaders of the world powers, such as the United States of America and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin arrive at a solution to the benefit of all. I'm for peace, I'm for bringing a prompt end to all this killing, but if we continue to arm and supply weapons [to Ukraine], it won't help to end the conflict," he claimed. The Slovak delegation intends to discuss the procurement of supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia and, aside from representatives of the Duma, meet also with several Russian ministers, including the minister of industry. They plan to inquire with Gazprom whether it would be possible to supply the gas to Slovakia despite Ukraine's decision to discontinue the gas transit via its land. Gaspar, together with House Vice-chair Andrej Danko (SNS), MP Marian Kery (Smer-SD), Richard Gluck (Smer-SD), Jan Mazgut (Smer-SD) and Adam Lucansky (SNS) are slated to leave for Moscow on January 12 and return on January 15. According to Gaspar, a group of legislators from coalition Voice-SD and opposition Progressive Slovakia is set to visit Kiev on January 14, with this trip announced by head of House Committee for European Affairs Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD). mf/mcs