By The South Asia Times

BRATISLAVA - Slovakia has warned it will suspend electricity exports to Ukraine if oil transit through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline is not restored, escalating a growing energy dispute in Central Europe, according to Tass News Agency.

Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia would halt electricity supplies from February 23 if Ukraine does not resume the flow of crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline.

“Slovakia is a proud and sovereign country,” Fico wrote on social media, adding that he would instruct the national grid operator to stop electricity deliveries to Ukraine if oil shipments are not restarted.

The Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline has historically transported Russian crude oil to several European countries, including Slovakia and Hungary, via Ukrainian territory. According to Slovak and Hungarian officials, oil flows through the route have been disrupted in recent weeks.

Slovakia argues that the suspension has caused significant economic losses and logistical complications. Fico said that previous interruptions in gas supplies cost the country an estimated €500 million, while the halt in oil transit has inflicted even greater damage.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also weighed in, stating that the Druzhba pipeline is technically operational and accusing Ukraine of blocking supplies for political reasons.

Speaking at a party event, Orbán said Budapest believes the move is aimed at creating energy instability in Hungary ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has similarly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of deliberately restricting oil transit to pressure neighboring governments.

Ukraine has not publicly responded to the latest statements and has remained silent regarding the reported disruption of the main oil transit route to European countries.

The dispute comes amid broader strains between Kyiv and some Central European governments over energy, military aid, and EU financial assistance.

On February 20, Hungary blocked a proposed €90 billion European Union package for Ukraine, while the European Commission confirmed that both Hungary and Slovakia had halted diesel fuel supplies to Kyiv.

Orbán argued that disrupting oil flows to EU member states would violate provisions of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which he said prohibits actions that threaten the energy security of member countries.

For its part, Slovakia has said it will not support additional large-scale military financing for Ukraine under current conditions, citing what Fico described as Kyiv’s “unacceptable attitude” toward Bratislava.

The standoff underscores the fragile balance between European solidarity with Ukraine and domestic political pressures in member states that remain partly dependent on energy transit routes crossing Ukrainian territory.

If Slovakia proceeds with suspending electricity exports, it could further strain Ukraine’s already stressed energy grid, particularly during the winter months when demand remains high.