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Ukrainian leader says Slovak PM's stance on Russian gas is

security risk

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Comments follow Fico's visit to Moscow to meet Putin

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Russian gas transit deal via Ukraine expires on Jan. 1

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Kyiv says payments for gas help fund Russia's war in

Ukraine

(Adds Zelenskiy's quotes, context on the meeting throughout)

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskiy on Monday criticised what he said was Slovak Prime

Minister Robert Fico's lack of desire to end his country's

dependency on Russian natural resources as a "big security

issue" for Europe and Slovakia.

Zelenskiy made the comments after

Fico me

t with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday.

Fico said the meeting was in response to talks with Zelenskiy,

who he accused of opposing any gas transit through Ukraine to

his country.

"His key goal is to deal with Russia, and this is what

benefits him. This is indeed a big security issue - both for

Slovakia and the entire Europe," Zelenskiy said on X.

"Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is

being paid to him, and what does he pay with?" he added.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it would not extend a

transit deal for

gas flows

from Russia to Europe, which expires on Jan. 1. Payments

for the gas have helped Russia to wage its almost

three-year war

in Ukraine, Kyiv says.

The flow through Ukraine accounts for around half of

Russia's total pipeline gas exports to Europe. Slovakia, Italy,

Austria and the Czech Republic will be the most affected if it

ends.

Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russia's

Gazprom, has been trying to keep receiving gas through

Ukraine, saying buying elsewhere would cost it 220 million euros

($229 million) more in transit expenses.

Zelenskiy said that Moscow was providing significant

discounts for Fico but added that Slovakia was paying for them

by its sovereignty or via "murky schemes". He gave no details.

"This should be a matter of concern for Slovakia's law

enforcement and special services," he added.

Slovakia's government office could not be immediately

reached for comment and did not immediately reply to emailed

questions.

The Ukrainian leader said that the issue was raised at a

meeting of European leaders in Brussels last week. Fico has

refused compensation to ease the transition period and get rid

of dependence on Russian gas, Zelenskiy added.

"(Fico) wants to assist Russia in pushing American gas

and energy resources of other partners away from Europe,

implying that he wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war

and weaken Europe," Zelenskiy added.

Fico said on Sunday that Putin had confirmed Russia's

willingness to continue to supply gas to Slovakia. Kremlin

spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he could not give more details.