Slovakia’s Fico escalates energy standoff with Ukraine: electricity cutoff threat looms amid Druzhba pipeline dispute

In a sharp escalation of the ongoing energy feud between Central European nations and Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine starting Monday, unless Kyiv resumes Russian oil transit through the damaged Druzhba pipeline.

The ultimatum, issued via a post on X on Saturday, underscores mounting tensions as Slovakia and Hungary – both heavily reliant on Russian crude – accuse Ukraine of deliberate delays in repairing the pipeline, which was disrupted by a Russian airstrike on 27 January.

Fico’s move echoes similar aggressive tactics from neighboring Hungary, which recently suspended diesel exports to Ukraine, highlighting a coordinated pressure campaign that could strain EU unity and Ukraine’s energy resilience amid its ongoing war with Russia.

Hungary escalates energy feud: halts diesel exports to Ukraine amid Druzhba pipeline standoff

The Druzhba pipeline, a Soviet-era conduit carrying Russian oil across Ukraine to Central Europe, has been offline for nearly a month following what Ukrainian officials describe as targeted Russian drone attacks on infrastructure near Brovary.

Slovakia and Hungary, the only EU members still significantly dependent on this route for Russian imports (accounting for over 90% of Hungary’s crude by 2025), have declared energy emergencies and tapped into strategic reserves to mitigate shortages.

However, both governments blame Kyiv for politicizing the repairs, with Fico accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “blackmailing Slovakia with oil” and suggesting it could hinder Ukraine’s EU aspirations.

“If Zelenskyy thinks that blackmailing Slovakia with oil will bring Ukraine closer to the EU, he is cruelly mistaken,” Fico stated, proposing an international monitoring mission to assess the damage.

Electricity from Slovakia constitutes about 18% of Ukraine’s total imports in February 2026, making the threat particularly acute as Ukraine grapples with a severe energy crisis exacerbated by Russian bombardments.

Requests for emergency supplies from Slovakia in January alone doubled those of the entire previous year, underscoring Kyiv’s vulnerability.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the demands as “ultimatums and blackmail,” urging Bratislava and Budapest to direct their grievances toward Moscow instead.

“Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv,” the ministry stated, rejecting accusations of intentional delays.

Despite the threats, Ukraine appears poised to weather potential shortfalls, with alternatives readily available.

As Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský posted on X, Polish and Romanian suppliers have signalled readiness to step in and fill any electricity gaps, leveraging existing interconnections and Ukraine’s diversified import strategy.

With European Pravda and Reuters.

Caption: Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (not seen) following their meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia, 15 February 2026. EPA/DOMINIKA KORTVELYESIOVA