Slovakia considers cutting off electricity supply to Ukraine due to Russia dispute

Slovakia and Hungary Face Deadline to Resume Russian Oil Supplies Through Ukraine

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been given a two-day deadline by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to resume pumping Russian oil through its territory via the Druzhba pipeline. The pipeline was shut down after a reported Russian drone strike hit infrastructure in late January, and Slovakia is heavily reliant on this supply of crude.

Fico issued his ultimatum to Zelenskyy on Saturday, warning that if the demand is not met, state-owned company SEPS will halt emergency supplies of electricity to Ukraine. This would have significant implications for Ukraine’s energy sector, which has been severely impacted by Russian attacks.

Slovakia and Hungary have both expressed frustration with Ukraine over the interruption in oil supplies, with Fico accusing Zelenskyy of acting “maliciously” towards his country. The Slovak leader claims that this is costing Slovakia around $589 million per year, citing a five-year-old transit agreement that expired on January 1, 2025.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also threatened to overturn an EU loan package agreed upon in December, which was intended to help Ukraine meet its military and economic needs. The package was opposed by Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, but a compromise was reached that allowed them to participate without blocking the initiative.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the ultimatums from Slovakia and Hungary, calling their actions “blackmail” and accusing them of playing into Russia’s hands. The ministry claims that Ukraine is willing to propose alternative ways to resolve the issue of supplying non-Russian oil to these countries.

Source: Al Jazeera