MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The situation with European

countries that buy Russian gas is very complicated and requires

increased attention, the Kremlin said on Monday after talks the

previous day between President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime

Minister Robert Fico.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he could not provide

more details about the talks, which also touched on bilateral

relations and the Ukraine war.

Fico said on Sunday that Putin had confirmed Russian

willingness to continue to supply gas to Slovakia, even though

the Slovak leader said this was "practically impossible" once a

gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expires at the

end of the year.

It was not clear what potential solution the two leaders

might have discussed.

Ukraine has declined to renew the gas transit deal.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week this might be

possible, but only on condition that Russia was not paid for the

gas until after the war was over.

"You heard the statement from the Ukrainian side, and

you know about the positions of those European countries that

continue to buy Russian gas and that consider this necessary for

the normal operation of their economies," Peskov told reporters.

"Therefore, there is now a very complicated situation

here that requires increased attention."