A 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine remains stalled as disagreements within the European Union continue, with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico voicing concerns over the funding and the ongoing situation with Russian oil deliveries. The impasse highlights growing divisions within the EU regarding support for Ukraine.
Fico announced on Friday, March 20, 2026, that he refused to support the conclusions of a recent EU summit focused on Ukraine given that they did not address his concerns regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline. “I did not support the conclusions of yesterday’s summit on Ukraine, because they are just litanies that ignore our national interests,” Fico stated, according to reports.
The Slovak leader openly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of playing “cat and mouse” with EU partners and misleading them about damage to the Druzhba pipeline. Fico questioned claims of a bombing at the Brody pumping station, characterizing the situation as “a big game for the Hungarian elections,” alleging Kyiv is attempting to weaken Viktor Orbán. He further claimed Zelenskyy “rejects any pressure from the EU” and is ignoring requests for a pipeline inspection, with the European Commission also bearing responsibility through inaction.
Opposition Response
Michal Šimečka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia movement, quickly responded to Fico’s press conference, criticizing his interpretation of the EU summit discussions. “It’s practically the same picture after every EU summit. The Prime Minister doesn’t achieve anything for Slovakia and our interests, returns, and attacks the European Union – how powerless it is, how it can’t make any decisions, how weak we are against America, China and Russia, and how everything bad that falls on our citizens originates in the EU,” Šimečka said.
The movement argued this is a recurring pattern following previous summits where Fico failed to achieve his objectives. “The Prime Minister always comes with the fact that he didn’t manage to lobby for what he wanted, but it’s also everyone else’s fault. Now it’s the same situation again,” Šimečka continued.
Fico had sought to include mention of the Druzhba pipeline in the summit’s conclusions. When unsuccessful, he announced he would not support the conclusions regarding Ukraine. Šimečka also noted Fico had proposals to address high electricity prices, but was also unable to secure their implementation. Progressive Slovakia believes the failure stems from Fico’s isolation within the EU, fueled by his constant criticism of the Union and its representatives.
“He’s just a well-paid commentator on what’s wrong with European politics, what should change, and why we’re weak. He could start a podcast for that,” Šimečka added.
Threat of Oil Shock and End of Exemptions
Fico warned on Friday that following the Hungarian elections in April, a significant shift in Brussels’ energy policy could occur. According to his information, legislation is already prepared to revoke the exemption allowing Slovakia and Hungary to import Russian oil, despite it being originally slated to expire at the end of 2027. “I will consider this a brutal attack on our national interests,” Fico warned, suggesting Slovakia would adjust accordingly.
In response, Fico noted that Bratislava has already taken reciprocal action, halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. He emphasized that if Zelenskyy continues to disregard Slovak interests, the patience of some European leaders with his approach will definitively run out.
Fico later revealed how discussions unfold behind closed doors among EU leaders. “We inform ourselves in those meetings that we are weak,” the Prime Minister said, describing how the topic of competitiveness was addressed within the EU. He criticized the lack of urgency in addressing energy prices and stated the Union had only “agreed to agree” on the matter of competitiveness.
He identified elements of the Green Deal as the main obstacle to development, arguing they could “economically sink” the European Union. He stressed that Slovakia produces 84% of its electricity emission-free and therefore considers it unacceptable to pay high prices distorted by the Leipzig exchange. “Our industry is extremely weakened and we are extremely threatened,” Fico concluded, stating his level of dissatisfaction with the summit reached 9.5 out of 10.
The March summit in Brussels, initially intended to discuss strengthening the European economy, instead revealed what Politico described as “powerlessness” and paralysis within the Union. Rather than geopolitical solutions, leaders focused on technical adjustments to the emissions trading system (ETS). The primary conflict centered on the 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, which was blocked by Viktor Orbán. The atmosphere of the negotiations was described as “icy” and filled with “awkward silence.”
Unprecedentedly harsh criticism was directed at the Hungarian Prime Minister, whose stance was effectively supported by Robert Fico. Council President António Costa labeled this behavior as “blackmail” and a violation of the principles of cooperation. The situation was further complicated by the conflict in Iran, which disrupted energy supplies and led to LNG outages from Qatar. The result of the twelve-hour marathon was a postponement of key budgetary issues to the April summit in Cyprus, where the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights could also be at stake.
