Ukraine’s Partners Unhappy: Hungary, Slovakia Slam Zelenskyy For Blocking Russian Oil Flow

Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 19:18 IST

Robert Fico warns Slovakia may halt emergency electricity to Ukraine if oil supplies are not restored, citing losses and tensions with Volodymyr Zelensky.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that Slovakia could suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil deliveries are not restored.

In a post on X, Fico said, “IF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT RESUME OIL SUPPLIES TO SLOVAKIA ON MONDAY, ON THAT SAME DAY I WILL ASK THE RELEVANT SLOVAK COMPANIES TO STOP EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE."

He stressed that Slovakia has supported Ukraine since the start of the war. “Since the beginning of the war, Slovakia has been helping Ukraine.

Around 180,000 Ukrainians are currently on our territory, we provide humanitarian assistance, and we organize joint government meetings. We are doing substantially more for Ukraine than some other countries," he said.

Accusations Against Kyiv

Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of ignoring Slovakia’s “peace-oriented approach" and acting against Slovak interests. “First, he halted gas flows to Slovakia, causing us damages of €500 million per year. Now he has stopped oil flows, causing us further losses and logistical difficulties," Fico wrote.

Referring to wider European energy tensions, he added, “If the West does not mind that the Nord Stream gas pipeline was blown up, Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket benefiting only Ukraine."

He further said, “Slovakia is a proud and sovereign country, and I am a proud and sovereign Slovak. If oil supplies to Slovakia are not resumed on Monday, I will ask SEPS, the state-owned joint-stock company, to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine." According to Fico, emergency supplies were required twice in January 2026 alone, compared to the entire year of 2025.

Wider Regional Context

The statement comes amid growing divisions within parts of Central Europe over continued military and financial support for Ukraine.

Earlier, Hungary has said it will continue to oppose the European Union’s proposed €90 billion financial package for Ukraine unless Kyiv allows the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to resume.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban made the announcement on his official X account, linking Hungary’s position directly to the oil transit issue.

“Announcement! As long as Ukraine blocks the Friendship (Druzhba) oil pipeline, Hungary will block the 90-billion-euro Ukrainian war loan. We cannot be blackmailed!" he wrote.

Hungary has accused Ukraine of intentionally preventing the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline at a time when the country is heading towards important parliamentary elections.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky took a political decision to block the resumption of crude oil transit, even though the pipeline is technically ready to operate.

According to Budapest, the halt in supplies threatens Hungary’s energy security at a politically sensitive moment, raising concerns about stability ahead of the elections.

Fico also linked the dispute to financial support for Kyiv. “Given President Zelensky’s unacceptable behavior toward Slovakia, treating it as a hostile country, I consider it absolutely correct that I refused to involve the Slovak Republic in the latest €90 billion military loan for Ukraine," he said.

The development highlights rising tensions between Kyiv and some European partners as energy security and war financing remain deeply contested issues across the region.

News world Ukraine’s Partners Unhappy: Hungary, Slovakia Slam Zelenskyy For Blocking Russian Oil Flow

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