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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to visit Ukraine to discuss “all issues” after tensions rose over the Druzhba pipeline dispute.
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The invitation followed a Friday morning phone call between the two leaders, as tensions grew between Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary over a crucial pipeline that delivers cheaper Russian oil.
The pipeline has been out of operation for about a month after transit through Ukraine was disrupted. Slovakia and Hungary have called for the immediate resumption of oil shipments.
Slovakia and Hungary are the two EU member states still importing Russian oil.
Both have accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying repairs for political reasons to force them out buying Russian energy. Fico said Friday morning in a social media post that the pipeline works, and Kyiv can no longer continue to postpone delivery deadlines. He rejected criticism for importing Russian fossil fuels.
“Under EU agreements, we have an exemption from sanctions. This is not “Russian oil”, it is our right to receive a delivery that we have secured and paid for” Fico said in a post.
The dispute intensified this week when Hungary blocked an EU financial package worth €90 billion earmarked for Ukraine, drawing sharp criticism from member states supportive of Kyiv, who condemned the move as blackmail.
Slovakia, in turn, halted supplies of diesel, gas, and electricity to Ukraine in retaliation.
Earlier on Friday, Fico agreed with Orbán to establish a joint investigative team to assess the condition of the pipeline and demanded that Ukraine grant the team access.
Fico visited Ukraine in September 2025, when the two sides discussed bilateral matters, including energy imports.
