Bratislava: Slovakian leader Robert Fico has threatened to cut financial aid for over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees living in Slovakia. This move is part of a set of retaliatory measures against Kyiv, following its decision to halt the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia.

Slovakia could take retaliatory measures against Ukraine after Kyiv halted the flow of Russian gas through its territory, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Thursday.

Leaders of the two countries have exchanged accusations and threats ahead of an anticipated halt to Russian gas flows via Ukraine

The United Nations Refugee Agency said there were just over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia as of December 8.

Russia ceased sending natural gas to Europe through pipelines in Ukraine Wednesday, after Kyiv refused to renew a prewar transit contract with Russia's state-owned Gazprom. The closure of the Soviet-era pipelines effectively ends "decades of Moscow's dominance over Europe's energy markets,

Russia can no longer use energy as a weapon, the minister said on X, adding, "Europe and the world will be safer without Russian gas, oil, and other dependencies — as well as without Russia itself." Read also: Naftogaz chief: Gas storage operations in Ukraine continue despite Russian strikes Termination of Russian gas transit from Jan.

Angered by Ukraine's transit stoppage for Russian gas, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is threatening to take measures against Ukrainian refugees. Speaking in the capital Bratislava on Thursday,