Slovakia has resumed importing Russian natural gas through the TurkStream pipeline after Ukraine halted transit via its territory, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced. The move helps Slovakia avert an energy crisis after Kiev’s refusal to renew its transit agreement with Moscow forced several EU nations to seek alternative routes, reports RT.
TurkStream, a key pipeline running under the Black Sea, has become the main conduit for Russian gas to southern and southeastern Europe. In a video message on Monday, Fico credited joint efforts by Russia and Turkiye for securing Slovakia’s supply, stating, “The Russian gas is now starting its journey to Slovakia via TurkStream. We should acknowledge their role in making it happen.”
Slovak state gas supplier SPP began importing gas through TurkStream on February 1, with plans to double supply volumes by April. Slovakia, which relies on Russian energy giant Gazprom, requires 4–5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually. Before the transit halt, it was receiving around 3 bcm from Russia via Ukraine.
Ukraine’s decision to terminate its five-year gas transit deal with Gazprom at the end of 2024 cut off pipeline deliveries to Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Moldova. The affected countries had already seen Russian gas imports decline due to Ukraine-related sanctions and the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, which was designed to bypass Ukraine’s transit network.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky defended the decision, arguing that blocking Russian gas transit would deprive Moscow of vital energy revenues. However, Slovakia and Hungary accused Kiev of deliberately engineering an energy crisis for political leverage.
While the TurkStream route provides a short-term solution, Bratislava continues exploring alternative sources to strengthen its long-term energy security, Fico said.
TurkStream comprises two branches—one for Turkiye’s domestic market and another supplying Bulgaria, from where it extends to Serbia and Hungary, connecting other EU states to Russian gas. The pipeline has an annual capacity of 15.75 bcm.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported last month that Ukraine targeted a gas compressor station in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, which supplies TurkStream. The attack, involving nine kamikaze drones, was mostly repelled, with one drone causing minor damage near a gas meter. Turkiye later confirmed the incident but assured that gas flows remained unaffected.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
