In an official statement, the Slovak prime minister said the decision followed Ukraine’s failure to restore oil deliveries to Slovakia by the agreed deadline of Monday. The warning had been issued on Saturday, with Fico stating that continued oil transit disruptions would trigger immediate consequences in the energy sector.

According to Fico, the condition was not met, prompting him to instruct SEPS, Slovakia’s state-owned electricity transmission system operator, to suspend all emergency electricity exports that had been helping stabilize Ukraine’s power grid amid ongoing wartime strain.

The emergency electricity flows have played a key role in supporting Ukraine’s energy system, which has suffered repeated damage since the outbreak of the war with Russia. Slovak officials say the decision was taken to protect national interests and energy security, stressing that Slovakia cannot continue to provide critical support while its own oil supplies remain disrupted.

The move escalates tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine, and adds pressure to an already fragile regional energy landscape. Observers warn that prolonged disputes over oil and electricity transit could have wider implications for Central and Eastern Europe’s energy stability.

Fico has maintained that the action is not hostile but necessary, reiterating that emergency assistance cannot substitute for normal contractual obligations on energy transit.