Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has indicated that he plans to align Slovakia’s position with the European Commission and Hungary regarding the resumption of Russian oil transit before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated that without this coordination, the meeting would lack purpose.
Fico expressed confidence that a meeting with Zelensky would eventually take place, although the location has yet to be determined. He emphasized the need for EU countries to exert pressure on Ukraine to allow inspections and restore the oil transit, which he described as crucial for Europe.
On the agenda for Fico is a trip to Paris for a nuclear forum, where he aims to arrange a discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to finalize Slovakia’s stance ahead of potential negotiations with Ukraine.
On February 23, Fico announced that Slovakia had halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine due to Ukraine’s suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline following a Russian attack on January 27. The Ukrainian energy company, Ukrenergo, stated that this cessation would not significantly impact Ukraine’s unified energy system, although it had not received official documentation regarding the termination of the contract from Slovakia.
Following a phone conversation on February 27, Zelensky invited Fico to visit Ukraine to discuss various issues. Fico accepted the invitation but expressed a preference for the meeting to occur within an EU member state.
On March 4, the Slovak government approved the termination of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, with the state-owned company SEPS planning to dissolve the relevant contract with Ukrenergo. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded, asserting that the decision would adversely affect Slovakia, as Kyiv had been financially compensating for the electricity.
The ministry reiterated that Ukraine’s proposal for a meeting between the political leadership of both countries to address pressing issues remains valid.
Details surrounding the Russian attack on the Druzhba pipeline emerged after a January 27 strike damaged critical infrastructure in Brody, Lviv region. Naftogaz reported that the Russian military targeted this facility, resulting in a fire and halting operations.
According to reports, the incident involved an infrastructure site associated with the Druzhba pipeline, which continues to transport Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. On February 12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that oil supplies through Druzhba had been suspended since the attack. He noted that Hungary was preparing to file complaints regarding transit issues.
Sybiha criticized Hungary for failing to protest against Russia’s actions, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in their stance. Both Hungary and Slovakia announced a halt to diesel exports to Ukraine until Russian oil supplies through Druzhba are restored.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry clarified that it had informed Budapest about the January 27 attack on the Druzhba pipeline and the resulting damages, asserting that accusations of delays in supply from Ukraine were unfounded.
The European Commission has expressed a desire for Ukraine to resume operations on the Druzhba pipeline, but acknowledged that the decision rests with Ukraine due to the risk of further Russian attacks.
On February 21, Fico warned that Slovakia would cease electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil transit through Druzhba was not reinstated, a position echoed by the Hungarian government. In response, Ukraine proposed utilizing the Odessa-Brody pipeline as an alternative for oil supply to the EU.
On February 27, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that Hungary and Slovakia would establish a joint investigative commission to assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is coordinating with the EU and Hungary to address oil transit issues before meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky. The discussions arise amid halted electricity supplies and recent Russian attacks affecting the Druzhba pipeline.