Slovakia halts electricity supply to Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that they have stopped the supply of electrical energy provided to Ukraine in emergency situations, following Ukraine's failure to resume oil shipments via the Druzhba Pipeline. Stating, "From today, the following principle applies: If the Ukrainian side requests assistance from Slovakia regarding the stabilization of its energy grid, it will not receive that assistance," Prime Minister Fico said that this step is based on the principle of reciprocity, which the Slovak government is authorized to take without violating any international obligations or principles. Fico added, "If the Ukrainian side continues to harm Slovakia's interests in the supply of strategic raw materials, the Slovak government will re-evaluate its constructive stance to date regarding Ukraine's EU membership."

"Closing the pipeline is political blackmail"

Claiming that the closure of the Druzhba Pipeline was an entirely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia regarding its international stance on the war in Ukraine, Fico stated that Slovakia is a sovereign country and will not bow to blackmail. Expressing that he wanted to learn from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself when they would resume oil shipments, Fico reported that they were informed that Zelenskyy would only be available after February 25. Fico said, "We understand the difficult situation Ukraine is in. This does not give the Ukrainian President the right to launch irresponsible and hostile attacks against Slovakia that lead to financial losses and serious logistical difficulties."

Slovakia had also announced last Wednesday that it had stopped diesel fuel shipments to Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, meanwhile, recently announced that they had stopped diesel fuel shipments to Ukraine on the grounds that oil shipments were being intentionally blocked, that they would not approve the military credit the EU plans to provide to Ukraine, and that they would reject the 20th sanctions package against Russia at the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Slovakia and Hungary claim that the damage to the Druzhba Oil Pipeline, which was damaged in a Russian bombardment on January 27, has been repaired and that shipments are being intentionally withheld.