In Zelensky's position, I would dismantle Druzhba, says Democrats leader Naď
Persistent tensions and uncertainties regarding the resumption of oil supplies have been gradually extending into other areas since January: energy security, foreign policy, discussions on European solidarity, and inter-state communication between Slovakia, the EU, and Ukraine. The dispute revolves around the Druzhba pipeline, which has traditionally transported Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary and is now being phased out due to gradual problems and strategic decisions by Kyiv.
The Slovak government considers the current situation with the pipeline damaged by Russian attacks as "political blackmail of Slovakia and Hungary" by Ukraine. According to Fico, Ukraine continued to delay the resumption of supplies, despite the Slovak government's claim that the technical issue could have been resolved if it were truly only technical.
"We do not believe that the damage is so severe as to prevent the resumption of the flow. Ukraine simply does not communicate and does not allow independent assessment,"
he said at a press conference on March 4, 2026.
"I told President Zelensky in a phone call that I do not understand why he is testing our patience and why he thinks we will indefinitely agree with everything he proposes, and that we will indefinitely stand by his European ambitions,"
he stated regarding the oil crisis situation after the government meeting.
In recent weeks, Fico has repeatedly emphasized that Slovakia has not received specific technical data about the condition of the pipeline from Ukrainian authorities, and therefore Bratislava cannot assess the actual condition. According to the Prime Minister, this lack of information is the reason why Slovakia is demanding a joint EU expert mission in Ukraine to resolve contentious points. The government also claims that Slovakia, according to exceptions valid in the EU, has the right to supplies of Russian oil through the Druzhba until the end of 2027 and that a unilateral halt of transit without agreement is unacceptable.
“Explain to me why, when President Zelensky claims it is terribly damaged, he doesn't want to let anyone in?”
Fico asked journalists at a press conference.
In response to the interrupted oil transport, the Slovak government declared a state of oil emergency on February 18, 2026, and decided to provide Slovnaft with a temporary loan of oil from state reserves. The aim is to bridge the pipeline shutdown period while seeking alternative routes, such as through the Adria pipeline. This loan was intended to cover the refinery's operations for approximately one month, reports the portal tvnoviny.sk.
Minister Juraj Blanár stated that the incomprehensible lack of communication represents a serious problem. Therefore, Slovakia is requesting the possibility of sending its own experts to assess the damages and search for solutions, reports the ministry's website.
Pipeline Inspection
While Slovakia has long requested the participation of its experts at the site of the damaged section, this has not yet happened and it is not even confirmed that Slovak technicians could physically access the Družba section. Unlike Slovakia, however, the Czech Republic has managed to connect its refineries with alternative routes and has also carried out certain technical inspections because its dependence on Družba is lower and its energy infrastructure is more diversified.
This difference is the subject of criticism from some Slovak analysts, who point out that Slovakia risks not only strategic dependence but also its reputation with this approach, as other EU states are seeking pragmatic solutions and technical certainty instead of political statements.
Energy Retaliation
When oil supplies could not be restored, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia would halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine as a retaliatory step. He stated that if Kyiv does not restore the flow of oil through the Druzhba pipeline, the state transmission system operator SEPS will not allow any extraordinary electricity supplies.
"If oil supplies to Slovakia are not restored by Monday, I will ask SEPS to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. Just in January 2026, these emergency supplies needed to stabilize Ukraine's energy grid were twice as much as for all of 2025. The Ukrainian president does not want to understand our peaceful approach and, because we do not support the war, he behaves maliciously towards Slovakia. First, he stopped gas flows to Slovakia, causing us damage of 500 million euros per year. Now he has stopped oil flows, causing us further damage and logistical difficulties,"
stated the prime minister on social media.
According to Reuters, Fico informed the management of SEPS to refuse any request from Ukraine for emergency assistance in stabilizing its energy grid until the oil flow is restored. However, Reuters also pointed out that these supplies represent more of emergency stabilization aid than a regular energy flow.
Reactions of Politicians
Robert Fico (Smer-SD)
Robert Fico spoke very sharply and his rhetoric was in the spirit of defending Slovak national interests. He claims that Slovakia must protect its energy security.
"Slovakia cannot continue in a situation where it is dependent on one source and Kyiv is not communicating transparently about the state of the pipeline. We demand clear facts, not political games,"
he stated.
At the same time, he emphasized that Slovakia is not a "colony" of the EU or Kyiv and must protect its sovereignty:
"Slovakia is a sovereign country that will not be blackmailed."
Ivan Korčok (Progressive Slovakia)
According to Korčok, it is incomprehensible that the Slovak Prime Minister is talking about reducing aid at a time when the people of Ukraine are experiencing months without heat and light, often in freezing conditions and nearing a humanitarian crisis.
He emphasized that he does not consider such statements to be a display of sovereign foreign policy but a cynical step without empathy.
“The Prime Minister beats his chest claiming to be a proud Slovak. No, Mr. Prime Minister. Slovaks are not people without compassion and solidarity. Slovaks know what it means to help, and they have shown it from the very beginning of the war. Do not misuse our country to blackmail civilians who are freezing in the dark,”
Korčok wrote on the social network.
He later commented that Fico's "blackmailing of Ukraine lasted two hours." He claims that Poland and Romania will replace Slovakia in supplying electricity to Ukraine.
"Another great move by the Prime Minister that enhances Slovakia's reputation. Shame,"
added a member of the PS.
Milan Majerský (KDH)
Majerský says that the main problem is Slovakia's long-term dependence on Russian oil and the missed opportunity for diversification earlier, reports TA3.
"Task number one should have occurred in 2014... we should have cut off from Russian fossil fuels,"
he stated.
He labeled the threats of stopping electricity supplies as unacceptable and reminded that electricity is sold to Ukraine, not gifted:
"We sell them the electricity, we don't give it away."
According to him, if such a step were taken, other countries would replace it, while Slovakia would lose revenue, and the prime minister would thus "punish not only Ukrainians but also Slovaks."
Jaroslav Naď (Democrats)
The leader of the Democrats, Jaroslav Naď, briefly commented on the recent threats made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky towards Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, writes SITA.
When asked whether Zelensky's actions constitute a form of blackmail concerning the blockade of the Druzhba pipeline, Naď responded that he understands the pressure the President of Ukraine is under, but at the same time, he must weigh his words and actions. Ukraine claims that the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Hungary and Slovakia, was damaged by a Russian attack at the end of January. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suspect Ukraine of deliberately obstructing the resumption of operations and engaging in political blackmail.
Tension around oil deliveries is particularly sensitive given the current situation in the Middle East, where the potentially most serious oil supply crisis in history is looming. Closing the Strait of Hormuz would affect up to one-fifth of global consumption.
"I will be absolutely open. If Putin hadn't started the war, there would be no problem with Russian oil. It's his decision and he must bear responsibility,"
Naď stated for SITA in response to the question of whether blocking a key oil artery at a time when global fear of oil shortages is growing is not a mistake.
On the other hand, the former defense minister reminded that Ukrainians face severe destruction of their country.
"If I were in Zelensky's position, the first thing I would do would be to dismantle Druzhba, because we are all paying for Russian blood money and for people dying there,"
Naď stated.
According to him, it is a miracle that Zelensky has managed to keep these oil and gas pipelines; if they were on Russian territory, Putin would have destroyed them long ago.
Michal Šimečka (PS)
Šimečka also criticized the Slovak government's stance on aid to Ukraine, writes SITA.
According to him, Slovakia, along with Hungary, is signaling a blockage of further support for Ukraine.
"If Ukraine does not receive help from the international community, it could collapse within weeks or months – whether under the pressure of Russian aggression or as a functional state. The security and economic impacts for Slovakia would be enormous,”
Šimečka pointed out.
Ukrainian energy expert Mychajlo Honchar stated that pipeline repairs are a long-term process and not a simple on and off switch. Ukraine emphasizes that the damage is complex and requires both time and expert interventions, writes the portal Aktuality.sk.
Components for the repair of the Druzhba pipeline will be supplied from the Czech Republic and Hungary
Deliveries of key components needed for the repair of the oil pipeline should arrive in Ukraine over the course of the next week. These will include components from the Czech Republic and technical parts manufactured in Hungary, writes Pravda.sk. The plan includes the final preparation and assembly of some parts taking place in the Czech Republic. After the replacement of damaged elements, the pipeline could be operational again in approximately three weeks.
According to available information, experts were supposed to inspect the section behind Brody. Interestingly, there are reportedly no experts from Slovakia or Hungary among the mission members, even though these countries are dependent on this oil pipeline.
Tensions are further increased by the stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who conditioned the unblocking of approximately 90 billion euros for Ukraine on the resumption of oil transit through Druzhba.
Sources: original text, Pluska.sk, SITA, X, Aktuality.sk, tvnoviny.sk, Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs
