Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico has issued an ultimatum to the European Commission, saying he will block a new EU sanctions package against Russia and slow Ukraine’s EU accession process unless the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. Fico’s stance reflects growing frustration in Bratislava over ongoing energy disruptions that have hit Slovakia’s oil supplies.
In a video posted on social media, Robert Fico said that if Brussels continues to prioritize Ukraine’s interests over Slovakia’s national energy security, Slovakia will withdraw its support for the 20th sanctions package against Russia. He accused Kyiv of failing to allow the pipeline to resume operations despite assurances that repairs were possible, and said that this is causing economic harm to his country.
At the center of the dispute is the Druzhba oil pipeline, whose Ukrainian section has been out of service since late January due to alleged damage, cutting off Russian oil supplies to Central Europe. Slovakia and Hungary have turned to alternative routes, such as Croatia’s Adria pipeline, but have voiced concerns about higher costs and limited capacity. Brussels and Kyiv argue that Ukrainian efforts to repair the pipeline are ongoing amid the broader conflict. However, Ukraine has not allowed European experts to assess the situation on site, and the European Commission has not taken action to persuade the Ukrainian president to resolve the issue.
The immediate consequences of the shutdown are already being felt in Slovakia. According to Fico, the halt in Russian oil deliveries, interacting with the Middle East crisis, has driven fuel prices sharply higher in Slovakia and across the Central European region.
Fico’s position has strained relations within the EU, where most member states support continuing sanctions and arming Ukraine in its war with Russia. Slovakia aligns with Hungary on the case, instead promoting diplomacy peace negotiations. Hungary is preparing for elections on April 12, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of deliberately interfering in the vote through its inaction on getting the allegedly damaged Druzhba pipeline back online.
