Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleSlovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris on Tuesday to push for a fact‑finding mission to the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline, and has reiterated threats to block a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine if Russian oil flows are not resumed.
March 8 (Reuters) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday he would meet with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, as Slovakia and Hungary ramp up pressure on Ukraine to restart Russian oil flows, warning Slovakia could block a major EU loan to Kyiv.
Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine have been suspended since late January, after Kyiv said a Russian attack caused a fire that seriously damaged the line.
The outage has sparked one of the most heated disputes between the neighbours since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine says the pipeline cannot be repaired quickly.
Hungary and Slovakia, European Union members which still import Russian oil and maintain ties with Moscow, have accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying a restart for political reasons.
FICO REPEATS THREAT TO BLOCK EU LOAN TO UKRAINE
Hungary has vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia and a 90-billion-euro loan by the bloc for Ukraine. Fico reiterated his threat to block the loan in a Facebook video on Sunday.
He said he would meet von der Leyen in Paris and push for experts to visit the Druzhba pipeline.
"But the most important message will be that Slovakia is ready to take over the baton from Hungary, if necessary," Fico said in reference to the loan.
"Blocking this huge military gift to Ukraine is a legitimate tool to achieve the restoration of oil supplies."
The EU Commission said Friday it was looking into ways to restore Druzhba oil flows, including potential financial assistance.
Slovakia has already halted emergency power supplies to Ukraine amid the dispute.
The dispute escalates as Hungary heads into a tight election next month, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in power for 16 years, making the war in Ukraine a central campaign theme.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Oil flows were halted after Ukraine reported a Russian attack and fire that damaged the Druzhba pipeline in late January.
Slovakia’s PM Fico warned he could block a major EU loan to Ukraine if oil flows are not resumed.
Hungary has vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia and a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, supporting the resumption of oil imports.
The EU Commission is exploring ways to restore Druzhba pipeline oil flows, including possible financial support.
Fico plans to meet EU President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday to discuss the situation and push for a fact-finding mission.
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