Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is set to hold a phone call on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dispute over halted oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline escalates, heightening tensions in Europe over energy security and the war in Ukraine.
Further raising the temperature ahead of the talks, Slovakia and Hungary agreed to propose a joint inspection team, potentially including representatives of the European Union, to assess the pipeline’s condition in Ukraine.
The talks follow the stoppage of Russian oil flows to Slovakia and Hungary via the pipeline on Jan. 27, which Kyiv says came after damage caused by a Russian attack near Brody in western Ukraine.
Bratislava and Budapest dispute that explanation, accusing Kyiv of deliberately delaying supplies.
Suspicious Slovakia
Fico’s office confirmed that the call will focus on restoring deliveries, which are a key source of crude oil for Slovakia.
The Slovak leader has publicly questioned whether the pipeline is damaged and warned that Ukraine risks losing Slovak political support if supplies are not resumed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán intensified pressure on Kyiv in a social media post, accusing Zelensky of blocking shipments.
“Another day has passed, and President Zelenskyy has still not restarted oil deliveries through the Friendship oil pipeline. His refusal continues to endanger Hungary’s energy security. Oil shipments must be resumed immediately!” Orbán wrote.
“We know that the pipeline is operational. We know that oil deliveries to Hungary have not resumed because of a political decision by President Zelenskyy,” he added, accusing the Ukrainian leader of telling Brussels that the pipeline could not be restarted.
Kyiv on the defense
Kyiv has rejected accusations of political pressure, saying repairs are ongoing after infrastructure damage caused by Russian strikes.
Slovak officials say inspectors and diplomats have so far not been granted access to the reported damage site.
The lack of oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline has already triggered a crisis.
Slovakia and Hungary have released strategic oil reserves and curtailed certain fuel and electricity supplies to Ukraine. Budapest has also threatened to block further EU sanctions against Russia and a major EU loan package for Kyiv until flows resume.