Bratislava has announced the cessation of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, with Prime Minister Robert Fico attributing this action to a worsening dispute regarding the suspension of Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline. This announcement was made on Monday, with Fico stating that the suspension would remain until Ukraine reinstates oil transit to Slovakia via the Druzhba route, which traverses Ukrainian territory.

Fico had previously issued a warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasising that any future requests for assistance in stabilising Ukraine’s energy grid from Slovakia would be denied. In a video message shared on social media, he clarified that the halt in supplies would be lifted only upon the restoration of oil transit to Slovakia, cautioning that further reciprocal actions could occur if the situation does not improve.

Druzhba pipeline

The ongoing dispute revolves around the Druzhba pipeline, which was brought to a standstill in late January following an incident characterized by Ukraine as a Russian drone strike that caused damage to the infrastructure. While Ukraine claims that repairs are underway and aims to restore oil flows promptly, Slovakia and Hungary have attributed the prolonged disruption to shortcomings in Ukrainian operations.

The Ukrainian grid operator, Ukrenergo, has stated that it had not received official notification regarding Slovakia’s decision. Despite this, the operator affirmed that the halt would not compromise the stability of Ukraine’s unified power system. They reiterated that the last request for emergency assistance from Slovakia occurred over a month ago and involved limited quantities.

Fico characterised the suspension of oil supplies as a politically motivated decision intended to apply pressure on Slovakia concerning its international positions related to the conflict in Ukraine. He also criticised Ukraine’s choice to terminate Russian gas transit following the expiration of a five-year agreement on January 1, 2025, arguing that this decision has cost Slovakia approximately 500 million euros annually.

Ban on Russian Oil Amid Ukraine Conflict

In 2022, the European Union implemented a ban on most Russian oil imports as a response to Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine. However, the Druzhba pipeline received an exemption to allow landlocked Central European nations the necessary time to secure alternative energy supplies.

Further complicating the situation, the European Union has not reached a consensus on a new sanctions package against Russia as the fourth anniversary of the conflict approaches. Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has reportedly blocked the proposal, linking its support for additional EU financial assistance to Ukraine with the reopening of the oil pipeline.

Data from Kyiv-based consultancy ExPro indicates that Hungary and Slovakia accounted for a significant portion, 68 percent, of Ukraine’s imported electricity in the current month, though it remains uncertain whether these numbers include emergency supplies.

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