Slovakia warns Ukraine of cuts if Russia’s pipeline oil not restored

Slovakia has threatened Ukraine with a halt to emergency power supplies to the war-torn country if Kiev does not allow the resumption of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, the CTK news agency reported on Saturday.

If oil transit to Slovakia is not resumed on Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico would call on the state grid operator SEPS to halt emergency power supplies to Ukraine, according to a government statement, quoted by CTK.

Oil from Russia is delivered to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. Ukrainian officials have said that the interruption is due to the Russian bombardment since the end of January.

But Hungary and Slovakia accuse the Ukrainian leadership of deliberately preventing the resumption of deliveries. Both countries’ oil supplies are largely dependent on the pipeline.

Ukraine sees the purchase of gas and oil from Russia by the two EU countries as helping finance Russia’s war against it.

Hungary threatens to block huge Ukraine loan

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hinted a few days ago that his country could hinder power supplies to neighbouring Ukraine if Kiev continues to disrupt Hungary’s supplies.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also announced on Friday that his country would block the EU’s €90 billion ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline is resumed.

Orbán has expressed the view that he believes Ukraine is interested in him losing the parliamentary election scheduled for April 12. and therefore wanted to ensure that heating costs in Hungary rise by blocking the Druzhba pipeline.