Slovakia has suspended emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine after its ultimatum for Kyiv to resume Russian oil transit expired.
Slovakia Suspends Emergency Energy Supplies
On Monday, February 23, the ultimatum deadline presented by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Ukraine expired. Fico expects Kyiv to resume transit of Russian oil, otherwise he will order the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
Fico’s Decision and Conditions for Resumption
In the evening on Monday, Fico decided to suspend emergency energy supplies. “From today, the rule applies that if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia for help in stabilizing its energy network, it will not receive such assistance,” announced Fico in a recording published on social media.
The head of government announced that energy supplies will be resumed when Ukraine restores oil transit. At the same time, he emphasized that Bratislava is ready to take further steps if Kyiv continues – as he put it – to harm Slovakia’s interests in strategic raw materials. Slovak media emphasize that Ukraine will manage without emergency electricity supplies from Slovakia. Poland and Romania have declared their readiness to replace them.
Fico: Oil Transit Suspension Has Ideological and Political Basis
Oil stopped flowing to Slovakia and Hungary at the end of January. According to the Ukrainian side, the reason was a Russian attack on the Druzhba pipeline. The authorities in Bratislava maintain that the infrastructure is fully operational, and Kyiv is engaging in political blackmail.
“Our intelligence information confirms that the pipeline on Ukrainian territory is operating, and the suspension of oil transit has an ideological and political basis,” said Slovak Prime Minister Fico. “What the President of Ukraine is doing will lead to an appropriate response. On Monday, I will visit the state company SEPS and ask to suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine,” he announced.
Ukraine’s Response
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the actions of Slovakia, as well as Hungary, which also threatened to block another sanctions package against Russia and an EU loan for Ukraine. The ministry called on the governments in Bratislava and Budapest for cooperation, emphasizing that ultimatums should be directed against Moscow, not Kyiv. Both countries had already suspended the export of diesel fuel to Ukraine last week.
