Slovakia has suspended emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine in the midst of a growing dispute over the suspension of Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced this yesterday, stating that the measure would remain in place until Kyiv restores oil transit to Slovakia via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukrainian territory.
This announcement follows a warning he issued to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend. He further stated that the suspension would be lifted as soon as oil transit to Slovakia is restored, warning that Bratislava could take further reciprocal measures if the issue remains unresolved. Fico also indicated that Slovakia would reconsider its previously supportive stance on Ukraine's bid for EU membership.
The dispute centers on the Druzhba pipeline, which was shut down in late January after what Ukraine described as a Russian drone strike damaged infrastructure along the route. While Kyiv has said that repair work is ongoing and that it is working to restore flows as quickly as possible, Slovakia and neighboring Hungary have blamed Ukraine for the prolonged disruption.
