(Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign ministry summoned Slovakia's ambassador in Kyiv on Thursday to reject accusations that it is meddling in its neighbour's internal affairs and to accuse Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of being a "mouthpiece" for Russia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the detention in Slovakia of a Ukrainian national on charges of "threatening national security". The Embassy of Ukraine is investigating the circumstances of the arrest as consuls are providing support.

Slovakia and Ukraine are embroiled in a diplomatic dispute following Slovakia's protest against Ukrainian remarks. The row intensified after Slovakia accused Ukraine of propaganda and Ukraine ceased Russian gas transit to Slovakia.

Relations between Robert Fico in Bratislava and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv have become increasingly bitter over the month.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has sought the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, will discuss the issue with European Commission officials on Thursday, his office said on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people in Slovakia have gathered at squares and street across the country to voice their opposition to the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico

Kyiv refused to extend a deal to transport Russian gas to Europe to stop Moscow earning revenue for its Ukraine invasion. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The European Commission will continue talks with Ukraine on natural gas supplies to Europe and will include Hungary and Slovakia in these talks, according to a statement shared by an EU diplomat and seen by Reuters on Monday.

Slovakia avoided a shortfall in domestic natural gas supplies in January, despite previous fears voiced by Prime Minister Robert Fico following the halt in Russian gas pipeline flows

Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of cooperating with European operators on gas transit to the EU, but it is the European Commission that must decide whether the European side needs such transit and whether it is ready to provide it.

Open Ukraine project, published by NV as its media partner. “It was known two years ago that starting Jan. 1, 2025, there would be no transit of Russian [natural] gas through Ukrainian territory,” Portnikov noted.