Energy tensions between Ukraine and two European Union (EU) member countries escalated as Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico issued an "ultimatum" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Bratislava announced it would urgently stop power supply if Kiev does not resume Russian oil flows within 2 days.
Writing on X network on February 21, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared that his country will urgently cut off power to Ukraine if Kiev does not restore the transit of Russian oil through its territory before February 23.
The focus of controversy is the Druzhba oil pipeline - a Soviet-era project, currently a key route for transporting Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Supply has been disrupted since the end of January.
The Ukrainian side believes that the cause was a Russian airstrike, while Moscow accuses Kiev of using energy as a "tool of pressure" on two EU countries that are more cautious about supporting Ukraine. Both Slovakia and Hungary agree with Russia's position on this issue.
In a message posted on social network X, Prime Minister Fico directly sent a warning to President Volodymyr Zelensky, and recalled that Slovakia had provided humanitarian aid and was ready to receive about 180,000 Ukrainian refugees.
According to Mr. Fico, the Ukrainian leader "refuses to understand our peaceful approach and because we do not support the conflict, he is acting maliciously against Slovakia".
The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized: If the President of Ukraine does not resume oil supplies to Slovakia on February 23, on that very day he will request Slovak related companies to urgently stop supplying electricity to Ukraine.
Mr. Fico also said that Ukraine had previously stopped the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia, causing damage to this country of about 500 million euros (589 million USD) per year. According to him, Slovakia cannot accept bilateral relations in a "one-way" manner, only bringing benefits to Ukraine.
The Slovak leader further noted that Ukraine is currently heavily dependent on energy sources from outside, in the context that the domestic power grid suffers heavy losses due to Russian attacks.
Moscow affirms that these attacks are a response to what they call "terrorist attacks" carried out by Kiev deep within Russian territory.
According to Mr. Fico, in January 2026 alone, the amount of emergency electricity Slovakia had to supply to stabilize the Ukrainian energy system was double the total volume of the whole year of 2025. He said that Kiev's "unacceptable behavior" once again shows that Slovakia was right not to participate in the EU's 90 billion euro loan package for Ukraine.
Tensions are not only in Bratislava. Hungary is also warning that it is considering the possibility of stopping the supply of electricity and gas to Ukraine related to the dispute surrounding the Druzhba line.
