PS: In Kiev, We Opened Door for Gas Transit Negotiations Through Ukraine

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Negotiations on gas transit though Ukraine to Slovakia are possible, representatives of Progressive Slovakia (PS) party stated at a press conference on Saturday, following Friday's talks with Ukrainian officials in Kiev. "The main topic of our meetings and discussions with President Zelensky and Ukrainian government representatives was gas transit and the possibilities of restoring this transit," stated PS leader Michal Simecka. "It's in our national interest, but also in our economic interest, to have good relations with Ukraine and to constructively resolve the issue of gas transit," he added. "Of course, we're talking about the transit of non-Russian gas, but such a technical solution was also anticipated by the government’s publicly discussed proposals," Simecka noted. The leader of the opposition party also stressed that the conversation with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that it wasn't the Ukrainian side that thwarted the pre-agreed solution, as Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) claimed. "Yes, negotiations took place, but it was the premier who sabotaged it with his trip to Moscow and attacks against President Zelenskyy," added Simecka. According to PS leadership member and former foreign affairs minister Ivan Korcok it was evident on the Ukrainian side that they appreciated the solidarity and assistance Slovakia provided to Ukraine in a difficult situation, but he added that the Ukrainians are disappointed by the attacks coming from Slovak coalition politicians against Ukrainians. The PS party also denied Premier Fico's claim that the party expressed support for Ukraine's NATO membership during their discussions with Ukrainian officials. "This wasn't mentioned, we declared support for Ukraine's integration ambitions within the EU, as it is also in our economic interest," Simecka added. lin