Summary
Slovakia has stopped sending emergency electricity to Ukraine because Ukraine has closed a key oil pipeline to Slovakia. The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, demands the pipeline be reopened, which transports Russian oil, or Slovakia might reconsider its support for Ukraine in other matters.
Key Facts
- Slovakia stopped emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on orders from Prime Minister Robert Fico.
- The halt will continue until a key oil pipeline from Russia to Slovakia is reopened.
- The pipeline, called the Druzhba, was closed after reported damage due to a Russian drone strike.
- Ukraine says it is repairing the pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Europe.
- Slovakia and Hungary depend on oil from this pipeline and declared emergencies due to the supply cut.
- The European Union had exempted the Druzhba pipeline from a 2022 ban on Russian oil imports to help Central European countries.
- Fico threatened further actions, including reassessing Slovakia's support for Ukraine's EU membership and involvement in EU loans to Ukraine.
- Hungary is also blocking new EU sanctions against Russia, demanding the pipeline's reopening.
