Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a warning that Slovakia may halt its emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine unless the neighboring country restores operations of a critical oil pipeline from Russia. This escalation in rhetoric comes after the Druzjba pipeline, which transports oil from Russia through Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary, was shut down. Ukrainian authorities attributed the closure to damage caused by a Russian attack against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on January 27, which further complicates the energy dependency in the region.

In a press conference, Fico announced that Slovakia is releasing 250,000 tons of oil from its national reserves to mitigate the situation. He stated that repair work on the Druzjba pipeline has already been completed and accused Ukraine of "blackmail" regarding the negotiations to reopen the pipeline. The Slovak government’s position reflects not only the rising tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine but also the broader implications of energy security in Central Europe amid ongoing conflicts involving Russian aggression.

This situation is now being monitored by the European Commission, which has indicated that discussions are ongoing between the parties involved in the dispute. The outcome of this conflict could significantly impact energy supply dynamics across the region. Slovakia's threats introduce further complexities into an already strained relationship and highlight the delicate balance of energy politics in Eastern Europe as countries navigate their dependencies on Russian oil and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.