Latest news with #TASR
Russia Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Slovakia party to demand Ukraine compensate aid
Lawmakers in Slovakia's ruling coalition will push to demand compensation from Kiev for the military and financial aid Bratislava has provided it over the course of the Ukraine conflict, according to state news agency TASR. The Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko will call on Prime Minister Robert Fico to begin EU proceedings regarding the bloc's stake in Ukrainian mineral production, following the example of the US, head of the lawmaker's office, Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Saturday. Washington, Kiev's biggest military donor, inked a major minerals agreement with it last month, giving the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral wealth. President Donald Trump has touted the deal as a way for the US to reclaim hundreds of billions of dollars in aid spent on supporting Ukraine. Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka has since described the preceding negotiations with the US as something from a 'mafia movie.' 'The European Union's aid is approaching the volume of US aid. If Ukraine hands over all its mineral wealth to the US, Ukraine will have nothing to repay the aid given by European states,' Danko's office director Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Saturday. It was illogical and unethical of the US to demand exclusive mining rights of Ukraine, Skopcova said, according to TASR. If Ukraine has already decided to pay for aid during the conflict with the Russian Federation, it is incomprehensible why it does not do so in relation to the EU. On Monday, Danko plans to ask Slovak Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky to tally up the sum of all financial and military assistance Bratislava provided Kiev during the Ukraine conflict, TASR wrote. The SNS wants more than €3 billion ($3.41 billion) in aid compensated in a similar manner as the US has sought, the news agency said. Under Fico, a long-time critic of EU policy regarding the Ukraine conflict, Bratislava has cut military assistance to Kiev. Last May, he survived an assassination attempt after being shot multiple times by a pro-Ukraine activist. The US has allocated some $135 billion to aid Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, data from Germany's Kiev Institute says. By comparison, the EU has dedicated around $158 billion in total military and financial aid to Kiev over the past three years, according to the European Commission. Brussels penned an agreement regarding raw materials with Ukraine in 2021. The European Parliament Think Tank has noted that the document gives the EU a stake in Ukraine's mineral wealth, like the US.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Slovak Foreign Ministry defends support for Ukraine at UN after angering country's nationalists
The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that its vote in favour of a UN resolution condemning Russian aggression reflects the government's position, following criticism from nationalists. Source: ministry in comment to TASR news agency, as reported by European Pravda. Details: The Slovak Foreign Ministry reminded that 93 UN member states approved the resolution, which is "a possible compromise proposal" aimed at emphasising respect for international law, the inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity. They added that these principles are fundamental for Slovakia. Quote: "Our position is absolutely principled, just as in the case of Slovakia not recognising Kosovo, as we consider it a violation of international law and Serbia's territorial integrity." Background: On Monday, 24 February, 93 UN member states voted in favour of a resolution submitted by Ukraine and European countries condemning Russian aggression and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Eighteen countries, including the US, Russia, Hungary and Israel, voted against the document. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the vote by stating that Ukraine's resolution was "antagonistic" and contradicted efforts to negotiate an end to the war. The nationalist Slovak National Party, a member of the coalition, demanded an apology from Prime Minister Robert Fico for supporting a UN General Assembly resolution. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Ammon
19-02-2025
- Ammon
80-kilo brown bear attacked family with children in Slovakia
Ammon News - A brown bear attacked a family of two children in the Slovakian region of Litov, the TASR news agency reported on Monday. The family was hiking along a forest trail in the village of Partizanska Lubicza when they were surprised by the bear, which weighed around 80 kilograms. According to authorities, the bear initially attacked the children directly, but retreated when the parents tried to protect the children with their bodies. The woman suffered minor injuries, while the children escaped unharmed. The mayor of the region, Ladislav Balagić, said on Facebook that "it was a small miracle" that there were no more serious injuries. He added that he inspected the scene the next day with the local environmental authorities' brown bear response team, where they discovered a bear shelter just a few meters away. The mayor said the area would be monitored by surveillance cameras and regular patrols, and urged citizens to avoid the area. Official statistics indicate that there are about 1,200 wild bears in Slovakia. The bears usually avoid humans if they notice them in time.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Slovakia resumes gas imports from Russia via TurkStream pipeline
Slovak gas company SPP began importing Russian gas again through the TurkStream pipeline on Feb. 1, with plans to double supplies by April, Slovak news agency TASR reported on Feb. 6. SPP Chairman Vojtech Ferencz confirmed that the company still has a contract with Gazprom, citing the lower transit fees compared to other suppliers. The pipeline goes through Turkey and Hungary, eventually reaching Slovakia. However, Michal Lalik, head of SPP's trade division, noted that Slovakia would still need additional imports from other routes, as the current imports cannot fully meet demand. Slovakia's gas needs in January were mainly met using domestic reserves, which remain above average. Ukraine did not renew a pre-war agreement to transit to Europe via Ukrainian territory, instead on Jan. 1. Kyiv repeatedly warned that it would not extend the deal in order to stop financing Russia's full-scale war. Following Ukraine's decision, Fico threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies due to the termination of Russian gas transit. Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban have been among some of the most vocal opponents of Ukraine's decision to stop Russian gas transit. Read also: Ukraine's military intelligence reportedly disrupts Gazprom's digital services We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Slovakia started receiving Russian gas via TurkStream from 1 February
Slovak gas company SPP started importing Russian gas through the TurkStream pipeline on 1 February, with supplies expected to double by April. Source: SPP Chairman of the Board Vojtech Ferencz in a comment to journalists on Thursday, as reported by European Pravda, citing Slovak news outlet TASR Details: Ferencz did not reveal the exact volume of supplies but mentioned that SPP still holds a contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom, with a significantly lower transit fee compared to other suppliers. SPP trade division head Michal Lalik added that despite this agreement, Slovakia would likely still need to import gas through other routes, as the pipeline through Hungary cannot meet the country's consumption. Another route will likely be through Germany via Czechia, where SPP has reserved capacity. In January, SPP primarily met its customers' needs by withdrawing gas from its own reservoirs, where reserves remain above average. Ferencz stressed that SPP's priority is to ensure sufficient gas supplies for its customers. The issue lies in rising gas prices and higher transit fees for deliveries via alternative routes. Currently, gas prices exceed the long-term average of €53 per megawatt-hour (MWh). Before Russia's gas transit through Ukraine was suspended in December, prices hovered around €40/MWh. Traders are also concerned about a potential gas shortage in the summer, as EU countries must fill their storage facilities in accordance with a European Commission directive to ensure sufficient gas reserves for the start of the next heating season. Background: Bilateral relations between Kyiv and Bratislava deteriorated after Ukraine stopped transiting Russian gas through its territory, particularly to Slovakia. Slovak Prime Minister Fico called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an "enemy" of Slovakia in an online dispute over the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. The Slovak prime minister was also angered by Zelenskyy's support for mass anti-government protests in Slovakia. Support UP or become our patron!
