Zelensky to Press Slovak PM on Continued Russian Oil Imports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he intends to raise concerns about Slovakia’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil when he meets Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday in Uzhgorod, western Ukraine.
The meeting comes amid strained ties between Kyiv and Bratislava over the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude to Slovakia and Hungary.
While the European Union has imposed sweeping restrictions on Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine, the two landlocked countries received exemptions to give them time to secure alternative supplies.
Zelensky, speaking in a video address to an economic forum in Italy, said reducing Russia’s oil revenue remained a critical step in weakening Moscow’s war effort.
“America wants to seriously cut Russia’s income from energy exports, and that is the right path. We will also discuss this issue (with Fico),” he stated.
Fico, who has often criticized Zelensky and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week in China, is making his first visit to Ukraine since returning to power.
His position has fueled concerns in Kyiv about Slovakia’s alignment within the EU on sanctions against Moscow.
The discussions are expected to highlight long-running tensions over Europe’s energy dependence. Kyiv has repeatedly targeted the Druzhba pipeline as part of its strategy to push for tougher enforcement of sanctions, while Slovakia argues that it still relies heavily on Russian crude.
The talks follow a videoconference on Thursday where Zelensky and other European leaders joined U.S. President Donald Trump during a Paris summit.
According to Zelensky, Trump expressed frustration with Hungary and Slovakia for continuing to buy Russian oil, calling it a move that undermines international efforts to isolate Moscow.
Punch
