Fico Threatens to Cut Off Electricity to Kyiv After Call with Merz

Oil Pipeline Crisis Deepens

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the current international situation. The central topic of the conversation was the escalating dispute surrounding the Druzhba pipeline, through which oil has not flowed to Slovakia since the end of January. Fico threatened that Slovakia would take concrete countermeasures — including halting electricity supplies to Ukraine — if it is proven that Kyiv is blocking the resumption of oil pumping for political reasons.

What's Behind the Crisis

The cause of the outage is a Russian drone attack from January 27, 2026, which damaged the Druzhba pipeline's distribution hub near Brody, Ukraine. Since then, oil has not flowed to Slovakia or Hungary. Both countries are heavily dependent on the Russian pipeline and accuse Kyiv of deliberately delaying repairs for political reasons.

Fico goes even further in his claims. According to information from Slovak intelligence services, the damaged section of the pipeline is in fact already repaired, but oil is still not flowing. "Zelenskyy is making excuses. Our intelligence services know that the pipeline is repaired," the Prime Minister declared. Kyiv denies these accusations.

Strategic Reserves and Electricity Threat

The government immediately declared a state of oil emergency and decided to release 250,000 tons of oil from state reserves so that the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava could operate at least in a reduced mode. Slovnaft has meanwhile ordered seven tankers via the Croatian Adria pipeline, but the alternative route is five times more expensive and supply will take 20 to 30 days.

Fico also warned that Slovakia could halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In December 2025, Slovakia provided approximately 21 percent of Ukraine's total electricity imports. Slovakia and Hungary have also stopped exporting diesel fuel to Kyiv — Slovakia supplied up to 10 percent of Ukraine's diesel consumption. Hungary has threatened to block an EU loan of €90 billion for Kyiv until oil transit is restored.

EU Calls Emergency Meeting

The European Commission responded by calling an emergency meeting of the Oil Coordination Group on February 25, with the participation of Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia. However, Brussels made it clear that it would not pressure Kyiv to make repairs. Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said: "We are not exerting any pressure and we are not giving Ukraine deadlines."

Croatia has refused to allow the transit of Russian oil for Hungary through the Adria pipeline. The EU pointed out that both countries have oil reserves for 90 days, so there is no immediate threat to supplies. The Union is also concerned about the energy situation in Ukraine, which faces regular Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

After Call with Merz: Open Letter to Brussels

During the call with Merz, Fico emphasized the strong economic ties between Slovakia and Germany and expressed hope that the German Chancellor would visit him soon. The conversation also touched on Fico's recent contact with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

After the call, Fico announced that he would send an open letter to the President of the European Commission, addressed to all prime ministers and leaders of member states. In the letter, he intends to demand a fundamental change in EU policy, which he accuses of weakening on the global stage. He blamed "senseless climate goals and suicidal migration policy" as the main culprits. The dispute over the Druzhba pipeline is thus becoming not only an energy crisis, but also a tool in Fico's broader political pressure on Brussels.