Can Slovakia halt its electricity supplies to Ukraine? Here’s the response from Shmyhal.

The threat from Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine has not materialized at this time. Technically, implementing this is quite complicated due to European regulations. This was stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a question hour with the government in the Verkhovna Rada.

"We are in direct contact with the European Commission. As soon as the Prime Minister of Slovakia announced the threat to stop electricity imports to Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy immediately contacted the European Commission, the European Integrated Energy Network, and the Energy Community. We received responses and feedback," Shmyhal said.

He explained that Slovakia and its energy system are part of the integrated European network. "Even if Slovakia could technically suspend electricity supplies, according to the rules of the integrated market, the volumes would be redistributed among other supplying countries," the Prime Minister added.

Shmyhal also noted that Poland and other neighboring countries have expressed their willingness to cooperate with Ukraine if necessary.

"However, such decisions are made not by national operators, but by the integrated energy network, and the European Commission is closely monitoring this process," he added.

Therefore, as of today, there is no threat of reducing or limiting electricity imports to Ukraine. "We continue to receive electricity, including from Slovakia," Shmyhal concluded.