President visits Germany

During his first visit to Berlin, President Peter Pellegrini noted Germany’s concern over Ukraine’s decision to end its oil and gas transit contract next year. After talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Pellegrini highlighted the risks to energy supplies, as the shutdown of the Druzhba pipeline could disrupt oil flows to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia starting January 2025. Pellegrini discussed energy security with Scholz, including his upcoming trip to Azerbaijan to explore new energy sources, stressing the need for regional cooperation to prevent energy shortages. Both leaders agreed that collaboration on alternative supplies is essential for stability. He also emphasized Slovakia and Germany’s shared stance against “extreme” tariffs on Chinese electric cars, cautioning against economic escalation with China, which could impact Slovak companies like Volkswagen.

Source: TASR