Robert Fico

Stories

Central Europe's energy ties to Russia become a weapon in the Ukraine war

As of May 2026: Issued ultimatum to cut electricity to Ukraine by February 23

For decades, Russian oil flowed west through the Druzhba pipeline and European electricity flowed east into Ukraine's war-battered grid. That exchange collapsed after a Russian drone strike knocked out the pipeline's main Ukrainian pumping station on January 27. Slovakia and Hungary, the last European Union members importing Russian crude through the pipeline, then escalated from halting diesel exports to threatening Ukraine's electricity supply.

Updated May 29

Notable Quotes

Zelensky refuses to understand our peace-oriented approach and, because we do not support the war, he is behaving maliciously toward Slovakia.

from Central Europe's energy ties to Russia become a weapon in the Ukraine war · Updated May 29

Slovnaft is stopping the export of diesel to Ukraine and any other exports, and everything it will process now at home in Slovakia will be intended for the Slovak market.

from Central Europe's energy ties to Russia become a weapon in the Ukraine war · Updated May 29