Slovakia cuts electricity supplies to Ukraine as Kyiv keeps Russian oil transit blocked

On February 23, Slovakia stopped emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine after Kyiv did not restore Druzhba oil transit as requested by Slovakia and Hungary, with Premier Robert Fico warning of further measures on EU support to Kyiv.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the decision in a video statement, saying Ukraine will no longer receive assistance to stabilise its energy network, Caliber.Az reports, citing European media.

"From today, if Ukraine asks Slovakia for help stabilising its energy network, it will not receive such help," Fico said.

The Slovak leader issued an ultimatum on February 21, demanding Kyiv restore oil flows by February 23 or face the cutoff of emergency electricity supplies.

Fico said Slovakia's ambassador in Kyiv was prevented from visiting the damaged section of the Druzhba pipeline. "Stopping oil flow is a purely political decision to blackmail Slovakia," he said.

If Ukraine does not restore oil transit, Slovakia is prepared to take further measures including reconsidering its support for Ukraine's EU membership, Fico warned.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned the move, describing Fico's ultimatum as "blackmail" that plays into Russia's hands. "Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv," the ministry said in a statement on February 22.

The Druzhba pipeline stopped operating on January 27 after what Ukraine said was a Russian drone strike on equipment near Brody in western Ukraine.

Ukraine said at the time its technicians were conducting detailed technical inspections of the damaged equipment while working under constant threat of further Russian strikes. In the meantime, Kyiv has proposed alternative transit routes including the Odesa-Brody pipeline while emergency repairs continue.

Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dispute Ukraine's account, claiming there are no technical obstacles to resuming supplies.

Hungary suspended diesel deliveries to Ukraine last week and threatened to block a €90 billion EU loan package to Kyiv if Russian oil supplies are not restored.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also said Budapest would block the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia.

By Khagan Isayev