As the tense situation in the east of Ukraine ignites further, with Russian troops now a mere kilometre from the Ukrainian border, Slovakia could see itself host to NATO troops as Ukraine’s western neighbour and the frontier of the Schengen area and the European Union, despite President Ivan Gasparovic’s dismissal of the idea on Wednesday 23 April at a NATO Security Council meeting.
Despite the critical situation across Slovakia’s border, outgoing President Gasparovic said he saw no threat of a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and that Slovakia should also take care not to harm its own interests.
A different opinion is held by head of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Frantisek Sebej, who is calling for increased security in light of the escalating situation, including the option of NATO troops being stationed here.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s gas transmission operator Eustream should sign a memorandum with its Ukrainian counterpart Ukrtransgaz on Monday, concerning the reverse flow of gas supplies from west to east for Ukraine. The signing of the memorandum was postponed as the Ukrainian side was hoping to use the main transmission artery, while Slovakia is claiming it can’t due to an agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
According to my news reports …Bob`s U turn was because he suddenly found an old gas distribution pipe ( as you just do of course ) that he could use to reverse flow gas to Ukraine and not break off his bum licking of Putin and big co Gazprom …..any one able to confirm that little nugget of info ?
BTW. Anyone had the time to watch Russia Today news channel ? I though Fox news was bad …..
Well said, Spider!
According to a 2012 EU Polinares report the Slovak/Ukraine pipelines have a reverse flow capacity of 25-39 bcm per year which would suggest BnM is more concerned about losing favour with his mate Putin rather than suppling Ukraine with gas.
The same report sheds some light on the true reasons behind Putin’s invasion of Crimea – The Red Fleet’s only “warm water” bases were only leased from Ukraine in a deal linked to cheap gas supplies. The original lease was due to expire in 2017 but a deal, again based around cheap gas, was struck to extend this by 10 years.
As for Russia turning off the gas, as some scare mongerers and politicians short of any real excuse are expounding, the Brotherhood pipeline system was built to transit gas to the West, stopping gas to Ukraine would stop gas to countries with some pretty water tight contracts and breaking them would cost the Russians dear – money they can’t afford to lose. The Ukrainian underground storage facilities along it’s western borders are critical to Russia being able to maintain supplies to the west when demand rises – Russia will not have sufficient USF until 2025-30.
“The signing of the memorandum was postponed as the Ukrainian side was hoping to use the main transmission artery, while Slovakia is claiming it can’t due to an agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom.”
Not exactly. Fico was shlttlng his pants and offered the Ukrainiens only 3 bil. m3 of gas this year, saying next year it might be 8 bil.m3. The Ukrainiens called the EU /and also Biden called Fico/ and Fico changed his pants. The Ukrainiens want 8bil.m3 a year starting this summer and they might get it.