Ukraine Accuses Hungary, Slovakia of ‘Blackmail’ Over Threats to Cut Electricity
On Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke against Hungary and Slovakia, calling their actions “ultimatums and blackmail.” The nations threatened to suspend electricity deliveries to Ukraine unless Kyiv agrees to resume the flow of Russian oil through its territory. This move comes amid a dispute over the disruption of oil supplies, which began on January 27 when Kyiv alleged a Russian drone strike damaged pipeline equipment in Western Ukraine.
Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is responsible for the prolonged outage, though Kyiv disputes this. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico announced plans to halt emergency power exports to Ukraine within two days if oil transit resumes over Ukrainian soil. Earlier, Hungary’s Viktor Orban had issued a similar warning. The tension highlights a growing rift between Ukraine and these two EU and NATO members, whose leaders have diverged from the broader pro-Ukrainian stance in Europe by fostering close ties with Moscow.
These countries are the sole EU members still dependent on significant Russian oil shipments via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukraine. “Ukraine rejects and condemns the ultimatums and blackmail by the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic regarding energy supplies between our countries,” stated the Foreign Ministry. “Ultimatums should be directed at the Kremlin, not Kyiv.”
Emergency electricity exports from Hungary and Slovakia have supplied nearly half of Europe’s support to Ukraine, which increasingly relies on them as Russian attacks have crippled its power grid. In a post on X, Fico warned that if oil supplies to Slovakia are not restored by Monday, he would instruct SEPS, the state-owned energy company, to stop emergency power flows to Ukraine. Kyiv labeled this decision as “provocative, irresponsible, and a threat to the region’s energy security.”
Throughout the war, which entered its fourth year on Tuesday, Ukraine has permitted Russian energy exports through its territory. Despite reduced flows, the country has remained a key transit route. To address the crisis, Ukraine proposed alternative pathways, such as using its own oil transport system or a maritime route like the Odesa-Brody pipeline connecting its Black Sea port to the EU. Since October, Russia has intensified drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts during harsh winter conditions.
“Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv.” – Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
Fico’s statement in a post on X emphasized the urgency of resolving the dispute. “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,” he declared. Kyiv warned that such a step would endanger the energy stability of the entire region.
