Slovakia halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on Monday, escalating a dispute over Russian oil deliveries as the war-torn nation struggles with daily blackouts from Russian bombardment. The move by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico came after Ukraine declined his request for talks until later in the week.
The escalation reflects deepening tensions within the European Union over support for Ukraine, with two member states citing their own energy emergencies while others contend that withholding emergency aid crosses ethical lines during wartime.
Slovakia on Monday halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, escalating a dispute over Russian oil deliveries as the war-torn nation struggles with daily blackouts from Russian bombardment of power infrastructure. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said the move came after Ukraine declined his request for talks until later in the week.
“Given the seriousness of the situation and the declared state of oil emergency in Slovakia, we are forced to take the first reciprocal measure immediately,” Fico said in a statement. “It will be lifted immediately after the resumption of oil transit to Slovakia.”
Russian oil shipments to Slovakia and Hungary halted on January 27 after what Ukrainian officials describe as Russian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory into Central Europe. Slovakia and Hungary, the European Union’s two most pro-Russian member states, blamed Ukraine for deliberately blocking the shipments and received temporary exemptions from an EU policy prohibiting Russian oil imports.
The Deepening Dispute
Fico declared that Slovakia would provide no further emergency assistance if Ukraine requested help stabilizing its energy network. “As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilizing the Ukrainian energy network, it will not receive such assistance,” he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded by calling on both countries “to engage in constructive cooperation and responsible behavior.” The Slovak opposition condemned Fico’s decision.
Fico threatened to take further measures if oil shipments do not resume, including withdrawing Slovakia’s support for Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.
Competing Claims Over Pipeline Status
Fico asserted that Slovakia’s intelligence services confirm the Druzhba pipeline is functional and said Slovakia’s ambassador to Kyiv has not been permitted to visit the section Ukraine claims is damaged. He characterized the interruption of oil deliveries as “a purely political decision with the aim of blackmailing Slovakia,” a position reflecting his government’s divergent views on the Russian war.
Energy in Wartime
Ukraine has faced rolling blackouts throughout Russia’s invasion as Moscow systematically destroys power generation and transmission infrastructure. The country has shifted away from Russian energy sources as part of its wartime effort but continues to rely on electricity imports from neighboring countries, including Slovakia and Hungary.
The confrontation underscores tensions within the European Union over support for Ukraine and the continued leverage Russia maintains over Central European nations through energy supply lines, even as the fighting continues into its fourth year.