Bratislava has said it took the reciprocal measure against Kiev over the disruption of Russian oil supplies
FILE PHOTO. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. © Getty Images / Anadolu / Robert Nemeti
[RT] Bratislava
has stopped providing emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine until
Kiev restores the flow of Russian oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba
pipeline, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said, warning of “further reciprocal steps.”
The
prime minister made the announcement on Monday, when the ultimatum he
issued over the weekend to Kiev to resume operations of the Soviet-era
pipeline expired. The Druzhba pipeline, which connects Russia to
Slovakia and Hungary, has been out of commission since late January.
Kiev claims it was damaged in Russian strikes, which Moscow denies.
Both
Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of deliberately withholding
supplies for political reasons and threatened retaliation. Announcing
the halt to electricity supplies to Ukraine, Fico reiterated that
Ukraine’s actions were a “purely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia.”
“Reciprocity is a fundamental rule in international relations. 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,” Fico stated, warning of “further reciprocal steps” if oil supplies are not resumed.
Kiev
has been increasingly reliant on electricity imports to stabilize its
power grid, which has been battered 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 came hours after Hungary vetoed the EU’s latest
sanctions on Russia, as well as a proposed €90 billion ($106 billion)
emergency loan for Ukraine. Budapest tied the double veto to the Druzhba
standoff, accusing Kiev of imposing an “oil blockade” on the country and “blackmailing” it.
Last
week, both Slovakia and Hungary announced that they would suspend
diesel exports to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline becomes operational
again. Budapest has also mulled cutting emergency electricity supplies
to Ukraine.