Zelensky’s Call to Slovakia on Russian Oil Purchases

During a meeting on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to halt purchases of Russian oil. This call comes as part of a broader push from the White House to stop funding Moscow’s war efforts against Ukraine.

Zelensky met with Fico in Zakarpathia, Ukraine, and emphasized that Ukraine is prepared to supply gas and oil to Slovakia—under the condition that it isn’t sourced from Russia. “We are at war,” he stated, highlighting the importance of energy independence for Europe.

After the meeting, Zelensky shared his thoughts on X, asserting that both Russian gas and oil have no future, underscoring the need for European energy independence.

This discussion echoed a statement made by Trump, who has been advocating for European leaders to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reliance on the energy sector to influence peace negotiations. Recently, Trump has been contemplating secondary sanctions against countries purchasing Russian oil, but he has yet to take decisive action.

According to White House officials, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders have urged Trump to convene an “ambitious meeting” regarding this issue. Trump reiterated the need for Europe to cease oil purchases from Russia, which has reportedly generated about $1.3 billion in sales from the EU in the past year.

In his communication with Fico, Zelensky mentioned his discussion with Trump, expressing hope that cooperation with coalition leaders could enhance peace efforts and bolster Ukraine’s security.

Slovakia and Hungary remain significant consumers of Russian oil, and both countries were granted exemptions from the EU’s crude embargo in 2022. However, the Institute for Energy Economics Analysis has reported that France, Belgium, and Spain account for a staggering 85% of all Russian liquid natural gas (LNG) imports for 2024, despite being adversaries of the Kremlin.

While the Czech Republic had also been heavily reliant on Russian oil, it made a pivotal choice this year to sell all of its Russian oil in protest of the war.

Fico’s relationship with the Kremlin appears stronger than those of other European nations. Notably, he participated in a Chinese military parade alongside Putin, which raised concerns regarding the close ties between Moscow and Beijing.

Fico disclosed that he had an hour-long discussion with Putin focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and promised to share insights with Zelensky in their meeting. “Putin has informed me about the progress of negotiations with President Trump and the potential paths to ending this conflict,” Fico said, though neither leader revealed specific details of their conversation.