Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced plans to suspend electricity exports to Ukraine if the country does not restore the transit of Russian oil by Monday, February 23. This ultimatum comes in response to the disruption of oil supplies through the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which has been a critical source of energy for Slovakia.
Fico’s statement indicates that he will instruct Slovak companies to cease emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on the same day if oil transit is not resumed. He emphasized that any expectation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Slovakia would be pressured into supporting Ukraine’s European Union ambitions through oil-related leverage is misguided.
In February 2026, electricity imports from Slovakia constituted approximately 18% of Ukraine’s total energy imports. The Druzhba pipeline, which had been transporting Russian crude oil through Ukraine, halted operations on January 27 due to extensive Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Following this interruption, both Slovakia and Hungary declared a state of emergency in their oil sectors, attributing the situation to Ukraine’s reluctance to repair the damaged pipeline.
In addition to Slovakia’s actions, Hungary has also threatened to stop exporting electricity and gas to Ukraine if the oil transit is not reinstated. This regional energy crisis highlights the interconnectedness of energy supplies in Central Europe and the potential repercussions for Ukraine amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Fico has proposed sending a monitoring mission to the site of the Druzhba pipeline damage in Brody to assess the extent of the destruction. The situation remains fluid as negotiations and assessments continue.
Slovakia's Prime Minister has threatened to halt electricity exports to Ukraine unless oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline is restored by February 23. This situation underscores the complexities of energy dependencies in Central Europe amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Source: Aktuality