Slovak PM threatens new measures against Ukraine over Druzhba oil halt

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that Bratislava is prepared to take additional measures against Ukraine following the halt of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.

Speaking after a European Union summit in Brussels, Fico said Slovakia could escalate its response if Kyiv continues actions that he claims are causing substantial economic damage to the country. He noted that Slovakia had already suspended emergency electricity supplies in response to the dispute.

“Today I confirmed my readiness to take new measures against Ukraine if its political leadership continues to deliberately cause economic harm to Slovakia,” Fico said.

Fico also criticized the conclusions of the EU summit, stating that he did not support the sections related to Ukraine because they failed to address the issue of disrupted oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.

Oil flows through the southern branch of the pipeline, which runs via Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary, were halted on January 27. Ukrainian authorities attributed the suspension to infrastructure damage.

Slovak officials, however, insist the pipeline remains operational and argue that the stoppage is politically motivated.

By Tamilla Hasanova