Slovakia to insist on resuming Druzhba oil pipeline operations — Prime Minister

Lead

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country will not approve new European Union sanctions against Russia unless the Druzhba oil pipeline resumes full operations, according to remarks carried by Russian state news agency TASS. Fico's statement came as Ukraine reportedly began refilling the pipeline, which had been halted since late January, with supplies expected to reach Slovakia on the morning of April 23.

Coverage comparison

All reporting on this story comes from TASS, whose coverage focuses on Fico's statements and the status of the Druzhba pipeline. The agency's reports consistently present Slovakia's position as a response to Ukraine's suspension of oil transit, which Bratislava says has caused economic damage. TASS articles from early April and late April document the evolution of the crisis, including Slovakia's declaration of an oil emergency and its subsequent decision to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. No non-Russian or independent sources were available in the provided material, so verification of these claims from other outlets is not possible at this stage.

Key claims

Fico stated that Slovakia would not endorse new EU anti-Russian sanctions until the Druzhba pipeline is actually operating again, as reported by TASS on April 22. The same day, Slovak media reported that Ukraine had begun refilling the pipeline, which had been halted since January 27, and that oil supplies to Slovakia could restart on Thursday morning, according to the TA-3 television channel.

On April 23, Fico said 13,500 tons of oil would be delivered to Slovakia that day, with 119,000 tons expected by the end of April, as quoted by the TASR news agency. The prime minister noted that Russian oil via Druzhba primarily feeds the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava, which produces fuel exported to other Central European countries.

The Slovak government declared an oil crisis after Kiev stopped transit through the pipeline, Fico said on April 15, according to TASS. In response, Slovakia cut off emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. Fico said he does not see grounds to resume those electricity deliveries, citing Slovakia's loss of 500 million euros from the suspension of Ukrainian gas transit.

Fico also said Slovakia would seek European Commission assistance in persuading Ukraine to restore pipeline operations, and he emphasized that Slovakia is permitted to receive oil and gas from the East until 2027 under EU decisions. The Slovnaft refinery has been forced to buy oil from alternative sources at extremely high prices, with deliveries coming by sea to Croatia and onward via the Adria pipeline.

On April 24, Fico described the resumption of Druzhba oil supplies as a greater achievement for the EU than the approval of a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine, which Slovakia did not back. Oil supplies through Ukraine to Slovakia resumed on April 23, according to TASS.

Perspectives

Slovak government: Prime Minister Fico frames the Druzhba disruption as an energy security crisis caused by Ukraine's decision, which he says has forced Slovakia to seek costly alternatives. He insists Slovakia is acting within EU rules and prioritizes restoring pipeline operations. His remarks also tie the issue to broader skepticism about supporting Ukraine militarily.

Russian state media: TASS presents the story largely from Fico's viewpoint, emphasizing the economic consequences of Ukraine's action and portraying Slovakia as a victim of Ukrainian policy. The coverage does not include Ukrainian or EU responses, leaving an incomplete picture of the dispute.

Ukrainian perspective: Not represented in the provided sources. The claims about Ukraine's motivations for halting transit and its view of the situation are absent, so they cannot be assessed.

European Union: No direct EU statements are reported. Fico's references to the European Commission and the loan decision suggest friction between Slovakia and other member states, but the EU's position is not detailed.

This article is based solely on TASS reporting. No independent verification of the claims presented was available at the time of writing.