Slovakia is exploring the use of Croatia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the island of Krk to offset the loss of Russian gas following the cessation of transit through Ukraine earlier this year.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini met with his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic, on Tuesday, and confirmed during a press conference in Zagreb that discussions with Croatian officials are underway, emphasizing the urgent need to secure stable energy supplies for Slovakia.
“We are trying to find solutions to buy gas as cheaply as possible,” Economy Minister Denisa Saková stated, noting that Slovakia is now relying on a mix of Russian supplies and imports from other European partners, prioritizing price above all. She added that Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar had assured her of ongoing Croatian investments aimed at increasing gas storage and transmission capacity, including infrastructure to carry oil from the Adriatic Sea through Hungary to Slovakia.
The halt of gas transit through Ukraine has had significant financial implications for Slovakia. Saková noted that the Slovak state budget previously earned between €500 and €700 million annually from this transit, and the loss now forces Slovakia to pay higher fees to alternative suppliers — costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also raised the issue during an official visit to Zagreb in April, where he urged Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to support the resumption of the gas flow through Ukraine. “The resumption of gas flow through Ukraine should be in the interest of the entire European Union, including Slovakia, of course,” Fico said at the time, acknowledging Croatia’s help but noting that LNG from Krk is a more expensive option.
Fico has been vocal in his criticism of Ukraine’s decision to halt gas transit, which occurred at the beginning of 2025 following the expiration of Kyiv’s contract with Russia. In January, he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiations over the matter. However, Kyiv’s refusal to play ball led to Fico accusing Zelensky of “begging and blackmailing” European nations for financial aid while simultaneously cutting off gas supplies.
At the Zagreb press conference on Tuesday, President Pellegrini emphasized the need for European solidarity in ensuring energy security, saying, “We want to have the certainty that if we do not have enough gas physically, there will be a regulation within the European Commission so that other countries are in solidarity with us as a member state,” he said, as cited by the TASR news agency.
The leaders also addressed defense spending within NATO, agreeing that increases must not lead to sharp price rises. “Once our governments… invest more funds in armaments, they should primarily support Croatian and Slovak industry,” Pellegrini said.
He also defended Slovakia’s support of all 17 EU sanctions packages against Russia, reiterating Slovakia’s position that the war in Ukraine should be ended through peace negotiations, calling for EU leaders to initiate dialogue with Russia and begin work toward a ceasefire. “Currently, negotiations on a temporary ceasefire depend on negotiations between the United States and Russia,” he added.
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