Slovakia threatens to cut electricity to Ukraine over Russian oil spat
Al Jazeera
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Slovakia has issued an ultimatum to Ukraine, threatening to cut off electricity supplies if Russian oil flows through its territory are not resumed by Monday. Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of acting "maliciously" by halting the transit of Russian crude via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline following what Ukraine claims was a Russian drone strike in January. Slovakia has warned that this move is causing annual damages of 500 million euros ($589 million) and has vowed to stop emergency electricity supplies if its demand is not met.
The situation has also drawn Hungary into the fray, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatening to block a 90 billion euro EU loan package for Ukraine unless Kyiv restarts oil deliveries through the pipeline. Slovakia and Hungary have both remained dependent on Russian oil since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, making them vocal opponents of the loan deal. The two countries argued that supporting Ukraine's military and economic needs should not come at the expense of their own energy security.
Ukraine has rejected these demands, calling them "ultimatums and blackmail" that benefit Russia. The country insists it is working to repair infrastructure damaged by what it describes as Russian attacks on the pipeline. Ukraine has also proposed alternative solutions to resolve the issue of supplying non-Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary. However, Slovakia's threat to cut off electricity raises concerns about further energy instability in a region already grappling with significant disruptions due to Russian aggression.
This spat highlights the complex interplay between energy dependencies, geopolitical tensions, and economic interests in Europe. As Russia continues to assert influence through its oil supplies, countries like Slovakia and Hungary face tough decisions balancing their support for Ukraine against their reliance on Russian resources. The situation underscores the broader challenges of navigating energy politics during a prolonged conflict, with implications not just for Ukraine's stability but also for European unity and security.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/21/2026