Slovakia has warned it will halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kiev resumes deliveries of Russian oil by Monday. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the ultimatum on social media platform X, accusing President Vladimir Zelensky of refusing to comprehend Slovakia’s peace-oriented approach and engaging in malicious conduct toward the nation.

The standoff centers on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline—the main artery carrying Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia. When supplies stopped in late January, Ukraine blamed a Russian airstrike, while Moscow insisted that Kiev was using energy exports to blackmail the two EU countries, which have been critical of the bloc’s support for Ukraine. Both Slovakia and Hungary echoed Moscow’s stance.

Fico condemned Zelensky’s “unacceptable behavior,” stating: “Zelensky refuses to understand our peace-oriented approach and, because we do not support the war, he is behaving maliciously toward Slovakia.” In a direct message on X, Fico declared that if Ukraine does not resume oil supplies to Slovakia by Monday, Slovak companies will immediately stop emergency electricity deliveries. He recalled that Ukraine had previously halted Russian gas exports—a move costing Slovakia €500 million ($589 million) annually—and added: “Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket benefiting only Ukraine.”

The Prime Minister also noted that Ukraine remains highly dependent on external energy sources due to its power grid being reeling under Russian strikes. He cited data showing emergency supplies needed to stabilize the Ukrainian energy grid in January 2026 were required twice as much as during the entire year of 2025. Fico concluded that Zelensky’s actions once again proved Slovakia had been correct to opt out of the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine.

Hungary has also warned Kiev it is “considering the option of stopping power and gas shipments toward Ukraine” over the Druzhba pipeline standoff.