Russia's ruler, Putin, aims to cut off natural gas supply to Ukraine

Slovakia, a small European country, has been relying heavily on nuclear energy for its electricity needs. With more than half of its electricity consumption coming from nuclear power, the nation's energy landscape is undergoing significant changes.

In a surprising turn of events, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has proposed American-Russian cooperation for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Slovakia. The proposed plant, with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts, would be under state ownership and discussions have been held with the American company Westinghouse.

Fico's proposal has received a positive response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has approved the plan. Putin has also hinted at the possibility of cooperation with American partners at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.

The move towards American-Russian cooperation in the energy sector comes as Fico has expressed a desire to continue buying oil and gas from Russia and work together in other areas. This stance is in contrast to the EU's exit plans from Russian energy carriers, a position that Fico has publicly stated he will vote against.

Meanwhile, gas deliveries via the Turkish Stream pipeline have almost reached 4 billion cubic meters, further strengthening Slovakia's ties with Russia in the energy sector. However, Putin has proposed to stop gas deliveries to Ukraine at a future, unspecified time linked to escalating geopolitical conditions. The exact timing of the implementation remains unclear.

Fico sees these developments as a step forward, particularly his meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Alaska. He believes that the meeting was a positive sign of potential cooperation between the two nations.

With Slovakia's heavy reliance on nuclear energy and its strategic location in the heart of Europe, the country's energy decisions carry significant implications for the region. As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Slovakia's energy landscape continues to evolve and what impact it will have on the broader European energy market.