BRATISLAVA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Slovak parliamentary delegation will visit Moscow in January to resume communication with the Russian side, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak National Council Andrej Danko said here on Sunday.

Speaking at a local media program, Danko added that he'll meet representatives of the Russian parliament and government to "restore some relations with Russia."

He described the trip as a continuation of the dialogue that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had launched during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 22, 2024.

He also emphasized the importance of the Russian gas for Slovakia and the whole of Europe. "You can't start using a different gas overnight, it doesn't work like that," he said.

The Russian gas flow through Ukraine to Slovakia was halted on Jan. 1 after the transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expired on Dec. 31, 2024.