ANI
24 Feb 2026, 04:28 GMT+10
Bratislava [Slovakia], February 24 (ANI): Slovakia has halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine amid an escalating dispute over the suspension of Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Monday.
Fico said the move would remain in place until Kyiv restores oil transit to Slovakia via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs across Ukrainian territory. The announcement follows a warning he issued to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend.
'As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilising the Ukrainian energy grid, such assistance will not be provided,' Fico said in a video message posted on X.
https://x.com/RobertFicoSVK/status/2025978844914589719?s=20
He added that the suspension would be lifted 'as soon as the transit of oil to Slovakia is restored,' warning that Bratislava could take further reciprocal steps if the issue remains unresolved. Fico also indicated that Slovakia would reconsider its previously supportive stance on Ukraine's bid for European Union membership.
The dispute centres on the Druzhba pipeline, which was shut down in late January after what Ukraine described as a Russian drone strike damaged infrastructure along the route. While Kyiv has said repair work is ongoing and that it is working to restore flows as quickly as possible, Slovakia and neighbouring Hungary have blamed Ukraine for the prolonged disruption.
Ukrainian grid operator Ukrenergo said it had not been officially notified of Slovakia's decision, adding that the move would not affect the stability of Ukraine's unified power system. The operator noted that the last request for emergency assistance from Slovakia was made more than a month ago and involved limited volumes, Al Jazeera reported.
Fico described the halt in oil supplies as a 'purely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia over its international positions on the war in Ukraine.' He also criticised Ukraine's earlier decision to stop Russian gas transit after a five-year agreement expired on January 1, 2025, claiming the move has cost Slovakia around 500 million euros annually.
The European Union imposed a ban on most Russian oil imports in 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. However, the Druzhba pipeline was exempted to allow landlocked Central European countries time to secure alternative supplies.
Meanwhile, the EU failed to agree on a fresh sanctions package against Russia ahead of the fourth anniversary of the conflict after Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, blocked the proposal. Hungary has also reportedly linked its support for further EU financial assistance to Ukraine to the reopening of the oil pipeline, Al Jazeera reported.
According to Kyiv-based consultancy ExPro, Hungary and Slovakia accounted for 68 per cent of Ukraine's imported electricity this month, though it remains unclear whether emergency supplies were included in that figure. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Chile Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Chile Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will be making...
(Photo credit: Reuters/Molly Darlington/File Photo) Suspended WTA professional Tara Moore of Great Britain filed a $20 million lawsuit...
Perth [Australia], February 23 (ANI): The Indian senior women's national football team defeated Australian club side Perth Azzurri...
New Delhi [India], February 23 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held high-level discussions with ministers...
New Delhi [India], February 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted Permanent Representatives to the United Nations...
New Delhi [India], February 23 (ANI): Brazilian Health Minister Alexandre Padilha has described President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's...
Washington DC [US], February 24 (ANI): The United States military has carried out another strike in the Caribbean Sea targeting alleged...
Bratislava [Slovakia], February 24 (ANI): Slovakia has halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine amid an escalating dispute...
Washington DC [US], February 24 (ANI): US President Donald Trump refuted media reports claiming that General Daniel Caine has cautioned...
Slovakia and Hungary on Monday took what they called reciprocal measures against Ukraine over disruptions to oil deliveries via the...
By Sahil Pandey Jerusalem [Israel], February 24 (ANI): Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday stated that defence and...
Paris [France], February 24 (ANI): France has moved to block access for United States Ambassador Charles Kushner after he failed to...
