If Ukraine does not resume oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline on Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico will request that Slovakia’s electricity transmission operators suspend emergency power supplies to Ukraine. The move comes in response to the continued halt of Russian oil transit through Ukrainian territory to Slovakia and Hungary. Kyiv has criticized the potential decision, urging the governments of Slovakia and Hungary to engage in constructive dialogue. Meanwhile, any suspended electricity supplies would be substituted by imports from neighboring countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said in an official statement that Ukraine “rejects and condemns blackmail” by the governments of Slovakia and Hungary, urging both countries to pursue constructive cooperation. According to Kyiv, any ultimatum should be directed at the Kremlin.
The statement reads:
“Such steps, at a time when Russia is carrying out massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and Moscow is attempting to leave Ukrainians without electricity, heating and gas during extreme frosts, are provocative and irresponsible.”
Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD) said he believes oil could already be flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, alleging that Ukraine is not being truthful about the pipeline’s condition.
“We know they can do it; we know it is not damaged. We are calling on the EU to join us in inspecting it. From the images that were presented, I cannot see any visible damage allegedly caused by bombing. There is a serious suspicion—similar to the case of Eustream—that Ukraine is not telling the truth in this matter,” he said.
The opposition has argued that the government is now facing the consequences of failing to secure alternative oil supplies from non-Russian sources, as neighboring countries have done. The European Commission responded that Ukraine is determined to repair the pipeline.
Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava (SEPS), the state-run electricity transmission system operator responsible for power exports, declined to comment.
An oil emergency was declared in Slovakia last Thursday. The government approved the release of 250,000 tonnes of crude oil from state emergency reserves to Slovnaft, which said the volume should cover domestic demand for approximately one month. The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic confirmed that supplies to the domestic market are not currently at risk.
Source: STVR
