Day: September 3, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin advised Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to suspend the flow of gas and electricity to Ukraine during a meeting in Beijing on September 2, according to Kommersant and TASS. Putin suggested that blocking reverse gas flows and electricity exports from Slovakia would pressure Kyiv to reconsider its actions.

Context of the meeting

The statement followed Fico’s complaint about Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries Russian crude to Slovakia and Hungary. Putin argued that Russia had “endured for a long time” before launching strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and now responds “seriously” to attacks on its infrastructure. His remarks highlight Moscow’s continued use of energy supplies as a tool of political pressure.

Ukraine’s reliance on European imports

Ukraine is compelled to import electricity from neighboring states because of Russia’s ongoing bombardment of its energy grid. Alongside Hungary and Poland, Slovakia remains one of Kyiv’s primary energy suppliers. In February 2025, Ukraine imported 7.3 million cubic meters of gas from Slovakia, 7.1 million from Hungary and 1.8 million from Poland. A standing contract allows Slovakia to export up to 150 megawatts of electricity to Ukraine annually.

Broader energy and political implications

Putin’s remarks come just days ahead of Fico’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 5, where security of the Druzhba pipeline and energy flows are expected to be discussed. The Slovak prime minister, known for his pro-Russian stance and opposition to EU sanctions, benefits from discounted Russian gas supplies, which reinforce Bratislava’s dependence on Moscow. Analysts note that this dynamic strengthens the Kremlin’s strategy of exploiting divisions within the EU.

Strategic significance

Ukraine maintains that its strikes on the Druzhba pipeline inside Russia are legitimate, undermining one of Moscow’s main revenue streams from oil and gas exports that financed the war. From February 2022 to early 2025, Russia earned an estimated €847 billion from these exports. Kyiv stresses that even if Slovak supplies were interrupted, alternative sources would compensate, and Slovakia itself would face legal and economic risks. Putin’s public call on Fico underscores the Kremlin’s broader strategy of using energy as a weapon to intimidate Ukraine and test European unity.