Slovakia has stopped emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, escalating a dispute over Russian oil transit. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the decision, stating Ukraine will no longer receive assistance for its energy network stabilization. Fico had issued an ultimatum demanding Kyiv restore oil flows by Monday, or face the cut-off. He asserted that preventing Slovakia's ambassador from inspecting the damaged Druzhba pipeline section was a political move by Ukraine to blackmail Slovakia. Fico warned that failure to restore oil transit could lead Slovakia to reconsider its support for Ukraine's EU membership.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned the move as "blackmail" that aids Russia, suggesting ultimatums should be directed at the Kremlin, not Kyiv. The Druzhba pipeline ceased operation on January 27th, with Ukraine citing a Russian drone strike on equipment in western Ukraine. Ukraine proposed alternative transit routes, including the Odesa-Brody pipeline, during ongoing emergency repairs.
Both Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have questioned Ukraine's account, claiming no technical obstacles prevent supply resumption. Hungary previously suspended diesel deliveries to Ukraine and threatened to block an EU loan package to Kyiv if Russian oil supplies are not restored. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also indicated Budapest would block the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia, a stance criticized by several EU foreign ministers.