Slovakia issues statement on Druzhba and Ukraine loan after Orbán defeat
Photo: Juraj Blanár, Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs (Getty Images)
Slovakia will block the EU’s upcoming 20th sanctions package against Russia, stated Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár in parliament, according to Slovak outlet Denník N.
Why Slovakia is blocking the sanctions
Bratislava is ready to block the 20th sanctions package against Russia. The reason is the Druzhba oil pipeline.
Slovakia wants a clear and verified guarantee that the pipeline will resume operations. Without that, there will be no support for the sanctions package, Blanár explained.
The loan for Ukraine
The position on the €90 billion loan is different. Slovakia will not block its allocation to Ukraine.
Earlier, the loan was blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost the parliamentary election. The new Hungarian government now being formed is showing readiness to support the loan, Blanár noted.
The Druzhba pipeline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said that Druzhba could resume operations by the end of April after a Russian attack. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has questioned this.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, has also linked lifting Hungary’s veto to the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline.
As soon as oil starts flowing through the pipeline again, Budapest will stop blocking the loan. However, Hungary still refuses to take part financially in it.
The European Commission has already postponed the first tranche under this package. The funds will arrive no earlier than the second quarter of 2026, as the parties have not yet signed either a memorandum or a loan agreement with Ukraine.
