But rather than meeting in Slovakia, Zelenskyy told Fico the talks should be held in Ukraine.
Ukraine ended the gas flows to Europe at the start of the year following the end of a transit agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, seeking to stop energy revenue going to Moscow to fund its nearly three-year invasion.
Fico says the move has cost Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, through higher gas prices and the loss of €500 million annually in fees to transit the gas further into Europe, and he is seeking to have the flows restored.
In an open letter to Zelenskyy on Monday, Fico said that a meeting could take place in Slovakia near the Ukraine border and could be used to discuss technical solutions to the matter.
“Such a meeting will create a good basis for an open discussion on gas supplies to Slovakia and other countries through the Ukrainian territory,” Fico said.
“Ok. Come to Kyiv on Friday,” Zelenskyy said on social media platform X later on Monday.
On December 22, Fico travelled to Moscow to meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin and to discuss the transit arrangements, sparking criticism from Ukraine.
Fico has previously said a deal was close that would have seen gas deliveries via Ukraine continue by having it change ownership beforehand.
But, he says, Zelenskyy rejected extending any gas flows through Ukraine at an EU summit in December.
Fico has argued Europe suffered multi-billion euro losses from a rise in gas prices caused by the absence of around 13.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas that flowed through Ukraine last year, including around 3 bcm for Slovak consumption.
Kyiv’s decision not to renew the agreement with Russia on gas transit through its territory only further deteriorated the relations between Slovakia and Ukraine, only made worse by Fico’s recent visit to Moscow and talks at the Kremlin with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The Slovakian prime minister also issued a threat to Zelenskyy, saying that if gas transit is not resumed, he will veto EU decisions on aid to Kyiv, suspend humanitarian assistance, such as demining efforts, and the supply of electricity, as well as limit support for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.
