Slovakia cuts off emergency power supply to Ukraine due to Russian oil

Slovakia has issued a two-day ultimatum to Ukraine, requiring the country to reopen the Druzhba pipeline for Russian oil deliveries. The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, announced on Monday that his country will halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv reopens the pipeline.

Fico stated in a video message that as of today, Slovakia will not provide assistance to Ukraine’s energy grid if it does not request help in stabilizing its own grid. However, he added that this stoppage would be lifted once oil deliveries resume through the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s grid operator, has stated that it had not received official notification of the halt in assistance and that it would not affect the unified power system of Ukraine. The last time Ukraine requested emergency assistance from Slovakia was over a month ago, in a limited volume.

Fico attributed the stoppage to “purely political decisions” aimed at influencing Slovakia’s stance on the war in Ukraine. He also mentioned that his country would reconsider its previous positions on Ukraine’s EU membership if the oil supply is not restored.

Slovakia and Hungary have been vocal about demanding Ukraine resume deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which was shut down after a reported Russian drone strike hit infrastructure in late January. The European Union had exempted the Druzhba pipeline from its ban on most oil imports from Russia to allow landlocked Central European countries time to find alternative supplies.

The EU failed to agree on new sanctions against Russia for the fourth anniversary of Europe’s biggest war since World War II, with Hungary vetoing the move. The EU loan to Ukraine has also been stalled due to Hungary’s refusal to reopen the oil pipeline.

Source: Al Jazeera