Slovakia could abandon Russian oil if it finds an alternative energy supply route from other partners, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said.
Slovakia will have no problem importing oil and gas other than Russia if it has enough capacity to transport through alternative routes, Ms. Sakova emphasized.
Earlier this week, in Vienna, Austria, Slovakian Economic Minister Denisa Sakova met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
The two sides discussed many issues, including the possibility of Slovakia abandoning Russian gas and oil, following a recent call from US President Donald Trump.
I have made it clear to the US Secretary of Energy that, to do this, we need to first create conditions that ensure that we do not have to trade for the complete collapse of industry and the economy, Ms. Sakova said.
The Slovakian Economy Minister added: "Currently, when the gas pipeline is closed and supplies through Ukraine have stopped, Slovakia becomes the country at the end of every pipeline. Before, we were at the starting point, now we are at the end point".
According to Slovakian Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, Slovakia's energy import costs have increased sharply.
Slovakia and Hungary - two landlocked countries with shared borders with Ukraine - have long depended on Russian oil and gas. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022, Slovakia and Hungary have implemented a number of initiatives to diversify energy supply.
Slovakia imports about a third of its oil consumption from non-Russian sources via the Adria pipeline through the Balkan region while Hungary has signed a series of flexible contracts with Western gas suppliers.
However, Slovakian officials still consider Russia a strategically important supply source.
