Visegrad Group: Energy

Domestic

Slovakia halted its emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. The move is a response to Ukraine stopping the flow of Russian oil through a key pipeline that runs to Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, and Hungary's leader, Viktor Orban, have both threatened to cut electricity to Ukraine unless the oil transit resumes. Ukraine has called for dialogue and asked the European Union to help resolve the dispute.

Hungary has filed a lawsuit with the European Union's Court of Justice to challenge the EU's ban on Russian energy supplies. The country's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, announced the legal action. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government argues the ban is harmful to Hungary's economy. Hungary has also stated it will block any new EU sanctions against Russia until oil shipments through a key pipeline to Hungary resume. Separately, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is calling for Ukraine to reopen the Druzhba oil pipeline from Russia, claiming it is technically ready. The country has begun using its strategic oil reserves after the pipeline was halted.