Zelenski, a hard message after meeting with the Slovak Prime Minister: “We will continue to hit the Russian energy infrastructure. Ukraine will not stay in the dark” / Robert Fico's reply: “We must also take into account the interests of other countries.”

President Volodimir Zelenski said on Friday that Ukraine will continue to respond to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, despite the critics from Slovakia and Hungary, who have faced interruptions in the supply of Russian oil. Zelenski made these statements after his first round of high -level discussions with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, with whom he previously had disputes related to Russian energy deliveries, in the city of Ujhorod, on the border with Slovakia, notes Reuters.

Slovakia, along with Hungary, continued to buy gas and Russian oil, even though other states in the European Union interrupted these links after Russia's invasion in Ukraine in 2022.

The EU invests in developing new energy supply routes, but Slovakia and Hungary claim that these alternatives have blockages and are more expensive.

Oil deliveries to both countries have been disturbed in recent weeks due to Ukrainian attacks on the Drujba pipeline, which transports oil from Russia through Ukraine to Slovakia.

“Ukraine responds to Russia's attacks on our energy infrastructure and will continue to do so,” Zelenski told a common press conference, reminiscent of the years of Russian attacks on power plants and other energy objectives in Ukraine.

“But we really want this war to end. However, no one will simply stand in the dark and accept it,” Zelenski said.

In turn, Fico said that military attacks on “legitimate” targets affect Slovakia. “We must also take into account the interests of other countries that are part of the international energy network,” said the Slovak Prime Minister.

Zelenski also said that Ukraine remains open to provide Slovakia oil and gas, provided they do not come from Russia.

Fico criticized Ukraine because it did not prolong the transit of Russian gas after the expiration of the contract with Moscow, at the end of 2024. The Russian Gazprom Energy Group has since redirected its deliveries, which it sends to Slovakia based on a long-term contract.

Also, Fico was firmly opposed to an EU plan in question on the gradual elimination of energy imports from Russia and temporarily blocked the most recent sanctions package against Moscow, demanding guarantees to avoid the damages that Slovakia could suffer from stopping.

Trump has asked European leaders to stop buying Russia

US President Donald Trump told European leaders on Thursday that Europe should stop buying Russian oil, which he said helps Moscow finance their war against Ukraine.

On Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that, despite the differences of opinion, there is a wide potential for cooperation, including in the field of energy. He expressed his hope that Ukraine will obtain security guarantees and provided support by sharing the experience of Slovakia in the process of accession to the European Union.

“Good and neighborhood relationships, a fair peace, ceasing fire as quickly as possible and a European perspective – these are the four things we want … Despite the fact that we have different opinions on some topics,” said Fico.