Slovakia and Russia to resume intergovernmental talks in Moscow on energy supplies
Slovakia and Russia will hold the first meeting of their intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Energy, particularly gas and oil supplies, will be the main topic, against the backdrop of the EU’s plan to phase out Russian energy purchases.
Key points
- The commission will meet in Moscow on October 26.
- It will be the commission’s first meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Gas and continued oil supplies are expected to be central to the talks.
- Other agenda areas include nuclear energy, agriculture, ecology, sport and culture.
- Slovakia must stop purchasing Russian gas by the end of 2027 under an EU plan.
- Prime Minister Robert Fico said in April that Slovakia would challenge the EU ban on Russian gas imports.
Why it matters
The meeting will restore a formal intergovernmental channel between an EU and NATO member and Russia after it was suspended following the 2022 invasion. Its energy agenda highlights the tension between Slovakia’s desire to maintain Russian energy supplies and the EU’s effort to cut off funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
What happened
The Slovak and Russian intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation is scheduled to meet in Moscow on October 26. The Slovak Foreign Ministry identified energy and possible cooperation on strategic resources as the main topics, with Slovakia interested in gas supplies and continued oil deliveries. Nuclear energy, agriculture, ecology, sport and culture are also expected to be discussed.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents the meeting as a resumption of energy consultations suspended after Russia’s full-scale invasion. It also emphasizes the conflict between Slovakia’s engagement with Moscow and binding EU measures requiring an end to Russian gas and oil imports, as well as Robert Fico’s visits to Moscow, including one in May 2026.
Background
Slovakia has purchased Russian oil and gas and has opposed aspects of the EU’s phase-out of Russian energy. The EU has adopted a binding regulation requiring a complete end to Russian gas and oil imports; long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas are prohibited from January 1, 2027, and pipeline gas contracts from September 30, 2027. The EU says the policy is intended to deprive Russia of resources financing its war in Ukraine.