KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet European Council President Antonio Costa and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday to discuss critical energy issues amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Ukraine’s Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak revealed that talks with PM Fico will focus on phasing out Russian oil deliveries via Ukraine, a crucial matter as Slovakia relies heavily on Russian oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline.
Recent Ukrainian drone strikes on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure have caused repeated disruptions, sparking strong reactions from Bratislava.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine has called on nations to stop buying Russian oil to reduce Moscow’s war funding. The meetings highlight the ongoing complexity of energy security challenges facing Ukraine and its European partners during the conflict.