A diplomatic rift between Bratislava and Kyiv has deepened over Ukraine’s decision to cut off the transit of Russian gas through Slovakia and mutual accusations regarding energy policies.

The Slovak Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Myroslav Kastran to convey a “strong protest over statements made by Ukrainian officials.’’

The ministry decried these remarks as “an intervention in the internal affairs of the Slovak Republic,’’ according to a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently criticised Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, accusing him of preferring Russia over the United States and Western allies by refusing to purchase U.S. gas.

Earlier, Mr Fico had criticised Zelensky for his decision to halt the transit of Russian gas through Slovakia at the start of the year, a move he says has caused significant economic harm to Slovakia.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also criticised Fico in a statement on its website.

“Fico, amidst falling trust among the Slovak society and protests against his pro-Russian course, resorted to looking for the enemies and found them in Ukraine,’’ the statement said.

Mr Fico and other parliamentary leaders of Slovakia were “poisoned by Russian propaganda,’’ it alleged.

The statement referred to suspicions expressed by Mr Fico that networks with connections to the Slovak opposition and Ukrainian circles were preparing to destabilise Slovakia.

Mr Fico has claimed that it was an attempt to overthrow his democratically elected government, citing a secret service report.

EU and NATO member Slovakia is more dependent on Russian gas than almost any other country in Europe.

(dpa/NAN)