On Monday, Slovakia escalated its dispute with Ukraine by halting emergency electricity supplies, impacting a country facing daily blackouts from Russian attacks on its power infrastructure. Since 27 January, Russian oil shipments to Slovakia and Hungary have been interrupted due to drone strikes that damaged the Druzhba pipeline.
The two pro-Russian countries accused Ukraine of intentionally delaying oil deliveries and received a temporary exemption from an EU ban on Russian oil imports. The nationalist Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the decision was made after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to discuss the issue until after Wednesday.
“Given the seriousness of the situation and the declared state of oil emergency in Slovakia, we are forced to take the first reciprocal measure immediately. It will be lifted immediately after the resumption of oil transit to Slovakia,” Fico said in a statement.
“As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilising the Ukrainian energy network, it will not receive such assistance,” he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged both countries to engage in responsible behaviour and constructive cooperation.
The Slovak opposition criticised this decision. “It is beyond shameful that on the eve of the invasion anniversary & while thousands of Slovaks are raising money to keep 🇺🇦 children warm, PM Fico halts electricity supplies. He does not speak for 🇸🇰, we stand with 🇺🇦, not with those who enable aggression,” Progressive Slovakia’s MEP Lucia Yar posted on X.
Fico threatened to take additional action if the shipments do not resume, including withdrawing support for Ukraine’s aspiration to join the EU. Slovakia and Hungary have contested Ukraine’s claims, stating that the Druzhba pipeline is ready to transport oil, but they have not provided any evidence to support their assertion.
“Our intelligence services report that the oil pipeline in Ukraine is functional,” Fico said. “Our ambassador to Kyiv has not yet been allowed to visit the part of the oil pipeline that the Ukrainian side claims is damaged.”
Fico claimed that the decision to halt oil deliveries was “a purely political move aimed at blackmailing Slovakia,” due to its differing views on Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, Fico is recognised as a close ally of Vladimir Putin, much like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Both prime ministers consistently obstruct EU support for Ukraine while attempting to facilitate the actions of the Russian invaders.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
