European countries and companies have a combined demand for around 15 billion cubic metres (BCM) of Russian gas next year via Ukraine, Slovakia's economy minister said on Monday.

Slovakia aims to have a deal by the end of the year that will allow natural gas to continue to flow from Russia through Ukraine, Denisa Sakova, the nation’s deputy prime minister and economy minister said.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that Slovakia is holding "very intensive" talks to ensure Ukraine continues to transit Russian gas in 2025. Source: Voice of America Details: The gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia is set to expire on 1 January 2025 and Ukraine has stated it does not plan to extend the agreement.

Hungary and Slovakia are seeking ways to make payments for Russian gas that were thrown into uncertainty by new U.S. sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank, officials said on Wednesday.

Slovakia plans to hold negotiations next week over the future of gas supplies as well as transit of the fuel via Ukraine, according to Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The parties discussed the issue of gas transit through Ukraine, according to the head of the Ukrainian government on Telegram.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Monday that Ukraine was willing to devise a deal enabling gas to transit through its territory to western Europe, but ruled out any extension of an existing deal with Russia.