Slovakia Doesn't Trust Ukrainians: Seeks Inspection of Druzhba Pipeline, Deliveries Delayed

"We do not understand the approach of the Ukrainian side. They have not communicated with us nor provided the necessary information, despite requests from our representatives for access to the damaged pipeline. We have also asked European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen to send an inspection team to the site to determne whether the damage is so severe that oil deliveries cannot continue", Blanár said, as reported by TASR.

He recalled that the Slovak refinery Slovnaft accounts for 15 percent of Ukrainian oil consumption and that Slovakia supplies electricity to its neighboring country when needed.

"We are helping Ukraine as much as possible. We do not understand why there has been no relevant response from the other side and why we have not been allowed to visit the site of the damage and determine how we can jointly address the situation", Blanár emphasized.

Oil supplies to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, which transits through Ukraine, have been suspended since early February.

On February 18, the Slovak government declared a state of emergency due to the oil shortage. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico previously stated that he had requested the suspension of emergency electricity deliveries to Ukraine.

Druzhba Oil Deliveries to Slovakia Postponed Until February 25

Ukraine informed the Slovak pipeline system operator Transpetrol that the resumption of oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline has been postponed until February 25, Slovakia’s Ministry of Economy said, noting that the reasons for the delay were not specified.

According to the statement, the Ukrainian side notified Transpetrol of the new date for restoring crude oil transport along that route, Reuters reported.

The disruption of the Druzhba pipeline is at the center of a dispute between neighboring countries after Russian oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary were halted last month, following what Kyiv said was a Russian drone strike that hit equipment along the route in western Ukraine.

Fico earlier stated that he had requested a halt to emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In a Facebook post, he said that until the oil transport through the Druzhba pipeline is restored, the Slovak electricity transmission system operator would reject all Ukrainian requests for urgent electricity deliveries. Fico requested a meeting with Slovak Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, acting in his capacity as the sole shareholder of the Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS), according to TASR.

Fico's statement came just hours after European ministers in Brussels unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Slovakia and Hungary to abandon threats to penalize Ukraine over delays in restoring oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, Reuters reported.

"As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilizing Ukraine's energy grid, it will not receive such assistance", Fico said, adding that this measure will be lifted only after oil transport to Slovakia is restored.

Fico emphasized that this is the first reciprocal step the Slovak government is authorized to take without violating any international rules or obligations.

"If the Ukrainian side continues to harm Slovakia’s interests in the supply of strategic raw materials, the Slovak government will also reconsider its previously constructive stance on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and prepare further measures", the Slovak prime minister warned.

Russian oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary have been suspended since January 27, when, according to Ukraine, a Russian drone struck equipment on the Druzhba pipeline in western Ukraine. Ukraine has stated that it is repairing the damage to the pipeline, which continues to transport Russian oil across Ukrainian territory to Europe.

Slovakia and Hungary, members of NATO and home to the only two EU refineries still reliant on oil delivered via the Druzhba pipeline, argue that Ukraine is responsible for the prolonged disruption of oil supplies.