Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced he will ask the Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS) to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for Kyiv’s refusal to resume Russian crude oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline.
In a video message posted on social media on Sunday, Fico said he would visit SEPS on Monday to request the suspension of electricity deliveries, further increasing tensions between so-called “dissenting” member states like Slovakia and Hungary, and the European Commission.
“If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells us to buy gas and oil elsewhere than in Russia — even though it is more difficult and expensive, which costs us a lot of money — then we have the right to respond,” Fico told followers.
Fico accused the European Union of putting Ukraine’s interests ahead of its own member states, warning that mistrust toward Brussels is growing. He said this trend could eventually paralyze decision-making in the bloc, particularly on issues requiring unanimity, such as sanctions packages and measures to boost competitiveness.
“The entire burden of the war in Ukraine is being borne by Europe, which, given the current economic crisis, is ideological madness. So we do not have the resources to reduce electricity prices, but at the same time, we are approving another €90 billion military loan to Ukraine, of which Ukraine will not pay a penny,” he said.
Fico also responded sharply to recent comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that Europe must ensure that Russia is no longer able to continue the war, either economically or militarily.
“The statements of the German Federal Chancellor clearly show that military support for Ukraine will continue at all costs,” Fico said. He added that pursuing exhaustion of one side was “absolutely irresponsible and amounts to economic suicide,” arguing that the conflict has no military solution and will lead to the “needless killing of soldiers on both sides.”
Specifically on the energy dispute, Fico accused Zelensky of harming Slovak interests by halting gas transit through Ukraine, which he said caused direct annual losses of €500 million for Slovakia. He alleged that the suspension of oil flows had “purely ideological and political reasons,” noting that Slovak intelligence information noted the pipeline remains operational on Ukrainian territory.
“Slovakia is not a servant of Ukraine,” Fico said, noting that Slovakia has hosted 180,000 Ukrainian refugees, supplied humanitarian aid, electricity and gas, and supported cross-border cooperation. He warned that Kyiv’s actions would lead to “reciprocal measures.”
“Slovakia is not a banana republic that will immediately do whatever Brussels, Kyiv, Washington, or Moscow wants, and who wants to make Slovakia a subservient handmaiden with no self-respect and no pride,” he added.
Kyiv insists the pipeline at the heart of the dispute remains damaged due to Russian attacks, and has proposed alternative transit routes for oil supplies to Europe, according to a letter reported by Reuters.
Ukrainian officials further noted that Fico’s remarks were “provocative, irresponsible, and threaten the energy security of the entire region.”
The post ‘Slovakia is not a servant of Ukraine’ — Fico threatens to halt emergency electricity supplies to Kyiv appeared first on Remix News.
Remix NewsRead More
R1
T1
