Since the expiration of the Ukraine-Russia gas transit agreement in early 2025, Russian strikes have intensified, targeting Ukraine's gas production and infrastructure.

Editor's note: Igor Yushkov is a leading analyst of the National Energy Security Fund, expert of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.s. The article expresses the personal opinion of the author and may not coincide with the view of News.Az.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned on Thursday that Slovakia would impose harsh reciprocal measures on Ukraine if the issue of halted gas transit through the country remains unresolved.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced Wednesday that he will travel to Brussels on Thursday to meet with the European Commissioner for Energy about the gas transit issue and "wake him up from his sweet sleep", News.az reports citing Xinhua.

Russian natural gas exports via Soviet-era pipelines running through Ukraine to Europe were halted in the early hours of New Year's Day as a transit deal expired and warring Moscow and Kyiv have failed to reach an agreement to continue the flows, News.az reports citing Reuters.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that Slovakia may cut off backup power supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv halts the transportation of Russian gas to Central Europe.