Slovakia has declared its unwillingness to abandon Russian energy resources

Slovakia is not ready to abandon Russia's energy resources supplied via the Druzhba oil pipeline, as the country's future depends on it. This was announced on May 9 by the Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, Tibor Gaspar.

"I think that when the EU finally decides to abandon oil or gas, Druzhba will probably be closed again. Not because it will be damaged in any way, but simply by a political decision," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Gaspar added that Russian oil products are vital for the Slovak economy, but it has not been possible to find their full counterpart. He noted that Bratislava is challenging the EU's decision to ban the supply of energy resources.

Access level: Slovakia demands to keep the supply of resources from the Russian Federation after 2027

In the context of the growing contradictions between Bratislava and Budapest and Kiev, armed provocations are not excluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 9 that Russia intends to meet Slovakia's energy needs. He added that Bratislava strives to pursue a sovereign foreign policy, as well as to build a pragmatic course towards Moscow. The Russian Federation, as Putin clarified, welcomes the gradual restoration of cooperation between the parties. Later, the Slovak prime minister called the intention of EU states to abandon energy resources from Russia ideological and harmful to European competitiveness.