Fico sends letter to Zelenskyy requesting restoration of transit through Druzhba pipeline

In his appeal, Fico stated that the energy security of the Slovak Republic is one of the country’s key national interests.

According to him, the decision to halt oil transit through Ukrainian territory causes serious losses for Slovakia.

"With great regret, we received the news that you decided to stop the transit of oil through your territory to Slovakia, which not only inflicts economic damage on us but also creates serious logistical problems," he complained.

Fico also emphasized that Slovakia, under European Union decisions, has an exemption from sanctions against Russia, allowing it to continue receiving Russian oil.

He noted that Bratislava has no confirmation of the alleged damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine cites as the reason for stopping the transit.

"Therefore, the heads of all political parties represented in the National Council of the Slovak Republic are requesting that you restore the oil transit through your territory as soon as possible," Fico stated.

Additionally, in the event of pipeline damage, the Slovak prime minister called for allowing an inspection team from the European Commission to assess the situation.

At the same time, the letter reminded that Slovakia has accepted a significant number of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the full-scale war.

"Over 180,000 Ukrainian citizens have currently found temporary shelter in the Slovak Republic, and as the heads of parliamentary political parties, we express our solidarity with you," Fico said.

He added that Bratislava supports Ukraine’s European aspirations but urged avoiding unilateral decisions that, in his view, could harm Slovakia’s interests.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and invited him to visit Ukraine, including to discuss the situation around the Druzhba pipeline.

Fico responded that a meeting with Zelenskyy is possible but would take place only after consultations in Bratislava with the European Commission and Hungary regarding Russian oil transit.

The Slovak prime minister also called on the European Union, together with Slovakia, to pressure Kyiv to restore oil transit through the pipeline and allow an on-site inspection. He warned that Kyiv’s refusal could influence the position of certain EU countries regarding support for Ukraine.