Slovakia is stopping emergency electricity deliveries to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced. This comes ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
He says the decision is a response to the suspension of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. The measure takes effect on Monday, 23 February.
A Russian attack on 27 January struck the Druzhba pipeline toward Hungary and Slovakia, suspending the flow. Despite the assault, the officials in both countries issued statements threatening Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia also announced they would stop exporting diesel.
No assistance regardless of Russian strikes on civilians during the winter
According to Fico, if Russian oil deliveries to Slovakia through Druzhba are not restored promptly, he will ask the state-owned company SEPS to halt emergency electricity supply to Ukraine.
“From today, if Ukraine requests assistance from Slovakia to stabilize its energy network, it will not receive such help,” Fico says.
He described this step as a “first measure” the Slovak government is entitled to take and asserted it does not violate the country’s international obligations.
Fico noted that in January 2026 alone, emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine were twice the total amount delivered during all of 2025. He also warned Slovakia could take further action, including reconsidering support for Ukraine’s EU membership.
“If Ukraine continues to harm Slovakia’s strategic raw material interests, the Slovak government will review its previously constructive positions on Ukraine’s EU membership,” he says.
Fico targets Zelenskyy personally
The prime minister emphasizes that restrictions could be lifted once oil transit is restored.
“The Ukrainian president deliberately harmed us by stopping oil deliveries through the pipeline. We were forced to declare a state of emergency in the oil sector,” Fico states.
