Visiting Merkel praises Slovakia's effort to help Ukraine with gas

The gas supplies from Russia and situation in Ukraine were the main topics during discussion between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovak president Andrej Kiska and German chancellor Angela Merkel, who visited here on Monday.
Fico called the recent cuts in gas supplies from Russia a "reason for serious concern." "Supplies of such raw materials shouldn't be a tool in the political struggles of the supplier, and I believe that the attainment of peace and stability in Ukraine will also result in the attainment of stability in gas supplies to Europe," stressed Fico.
Merkel emphasized the need for a joint course of action in promoting energy security in Europe, and she praised Slovakia's efforts to cooperate by enabling reverse gas flows. She expressed her major commitment to making sure that talks between the EU, Ukraine and Russia will be concluded in a timely manner so that gas supplies aren't disrupted during the winter.
Merkel together with Kiska concurred, that European Union member states have to be united, and this doesn't concern only foreign policy issues. "We agreed that the EU needs to speak in one voice on key issues," pointed out Kiska, who gave assurances to Merkel that Slovakia stands alongside its partners and backs all of the EU's measures vis-a-vis assistance to Ukraine.