Slovakia halts electricity supplies to Ukraine
Slovakia has escalated a dispute with Ukraine over oil deliveries by halting emergency electricity supplies to the country, which suffers from daily power outages as Russia bombs power plants and transmission lines.
Russian oil shipments to Slovakia and Hungary have been disrupted since January 27 after Ukrainian officials said Russian drone attacks damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe.
The two most pro-Russian countries in the European Union have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying oil shipments. They received a temporary exemption from EU policy banning imports of Russian oil.
Populist Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said Monday’s decision was taken after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refused to discuss the issue with him until after Wednesday.
Fico said in a statement about
“As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilizing the Ukrainian energy network, it will not receive such assistance,” he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on both countries for “constructive cooperation and responsible behavior” as he launched an international fundraising campaign to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people struggling with power outages in the middle of the freezing winter.
He said in X: “This aid is urgently needed. It will go directly to the purchase of equipment, electricity, power supplies and all types of energy for Ukrainians and communities in need.”
“A little bit of your warmth will save Ukrainian families and children.”
The Slovak opposition condemned the government’s decision.
Fico threatened to take further action if shipments did not resume, including ending support for Ukraine’s bid to become an EU member.
Slovakia and Hungary objected to Ukraine, without providing evidence, claiming that the Druzhba pipeline is ready to transport oil.
“Our intelligence services report that the oil pipeline in Ukraine is operational,” Fico said. “Our ambassador to Kiev has not yet been allowed to visit the part of the oil pipeline that the Ukrainian side claims was damaged.”
The Slovak leader claimed that halting oil deliveries was a “purely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia” because his views on Russia’s war against Ukraine differed from the mainstream in Europe.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement to mark the terrible anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
“This devastating war is a stain on our collective consciousness and remains a threat to regional and international peace and security,” Guterres said in a statement.
“The longer the war lasts, the more deadly it becomes,” he continued. “Civilians will bear the brunt of this conflict in 2025, the year in which the most civilians will be killed in Ukraine. This is absolutely unacceptable.”
Guterres also reiterated his call for “an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”
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