February 21, 2026
Energy Glasshouse – Ukraine Attempts To Blackmail Hungary, Slovakia Destined To Fail
Hungary and Slovakia oppose the war in western proxy war Ukraine. Both countries have continued to receive Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine. Both countries oppose EU membership for Ukraine.
The acting Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski is trying to use a Russian attack in January on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, which he alleged damaged the Druzhba pipeline, to block further transfer of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia. It is an obvious attempt to blackmail those countries. In August 2025 Ukraine had tried a similar scheme after itself had damaged a Durzhba oil pumping station in Russia.
But, energy wise, Ukraine is sitting in a glasshouse. It is receiving much needed diesel fuel from Hungary and Slovakia. A large part of its electricity imports, more needed now than ever, comes from those countries.
In mid February U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Hungary and Slovakia. He greenlighted their reprisal for Ukrainian blackmail attempts and prevented the EU from intervening in the case. The situation has escalated from there.
Let’s follow the dateline of the story …
Ukraine’s Naftogaz says Russia struck its facility in western Ukraine – Reuters, Jan 27 2026
Russia attack knocked out pipeline carrying its own oil to Europe, Ukraine says – Reuters, Feb 12 2026
Last month’s Russian attack on the Ukrainian branch of the Soviet-built Druzhba oil pipeline halted the transit of Russian oil to Eastern Europe, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday.
Rubio visits Slovakia and Hungary to bolster ties with pro-Trump leaders – France24, Feb 15 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to deepen cooperation with central Europe on Sunday as he kicked off a trip to Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders have warm ties with President Donald Trump.
In Slovakia, which, like Hungary, relies on Russian oil and gas and has uneasy relations with the rest of the EU, Rubio discussed energy and defence with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini.
Oil Supplies to Hungary and Slovakia Halted After Damage to Druzhba Pipeline – Moscow Times, Feb 16 2026
Oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia via Russia’s Druzhba pipeline have been halted after a Russian airstrike damaged the conduit on Ukrainian territory, leaving the two landlocked EU states scrambling for alternative routes for Russian crude despite Brussels’ ban on seaborne imports.
…
There have been no Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia in February, Bloomberg reported.
…
On Monday [Feb 16], Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of failing to resume transit for political reasons, …
Slovakia Threatens Ukraine With Reprisals Over Blocked Pipeline – Kyiv Post, Feb 18 2026
Slovakia’s prime minister on Wednesday threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if its neighbour does not reopen a pipeline that brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary.
…
[Prime Minister Robert] Fico, quoting Slovak intelligence, said the repair work had been finished. He accused Ukraine of blocking supplies as a “blackmail” weapon against Hungary, which opposes Ukraine joining the European Union.
EU Considers Emergency Steps to Restore Russian Oil Through Druzhba Pipeline – RFL/RE via OilPrice, Feb 18 2026
A European Commission spokeswoman on February 17 confirmed that Brussels was in touch with Ukraine regarding the Druzhba pipeline that has been damaged since late January, preventing Russian oil from flowing to Hungary and Slovakia.
“We are in contact with Ukraine on the timeline for reparation of the Druzhba oil pipeline and how quickly this might be up and running,” Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told journalists in Brussels, adding the EU executive was ready to call an emergency coordination group with relevant parties to discuss alternative routes to fuel supply.
Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel exports to Ukraine amid oil transit dispute – Euronews, Feb 19 2026
Hungary and Slovakia announced on Wednesday that they would suspend diesel exports to Ukraine amid growing tensions over oil deliveries, saying they need to secure their energy supplies to replace imports of Russian oil through the damaged Druzhba pipeline – with Hungary also accusing Ukraine of political blackmail and interference.
…
“Diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine have been halted. And diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine will not resume until the Ukrainians resume crude oil deliveries via the Druzshba pipeline to Hungary,” said Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
Hungary blocks EU’s 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, demanding Russian oil ahead of war anniversary – Kyiv Independent, Feb 20 2026
Hungary announced on Feb. 20 that it will block the European Union’s 90-billion-euro ($107 million) loan to Ukraine until Russian oil flows via the damaged Druzhba pipeline resume.
…
“We are blocking the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline resumes,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on X.
Slovakia threatens to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine from 23 February – Ukrainska Pravda, Feb 21 2026
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will move to stop his country’s electricity exports to Ukraine unless Kyiv restores Russian oil transit to Slovakia by Monday 23 February.
…
Fico said that unless Ukraine resumes transit of Russian oil to Slovakia by Monday 23 February, which previously flowed via the damaged Druzhba pipeline, he will “instruct the relevant Slovak companies to suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on the same day”.
…
Electricity imports from Slovakia to Ukraine in February 2026 made up about 18% of Ukraine’s overall import structure.
Ukraine had hoped that that the EU would back its blackmail attempt against Hungary and Slovakia. But Rubio’s backing allowed those countries to hit back. (The White House is fed up with the capricious behavior of Zelenski and his obvious blocking of U.S. supported peace talks with Russia.)
Zelenski is now in a bind. He can keep the Druzhba pipeline closed and damage Hungary and Slovakia. But doing so will make the already terrible energy supply situation in his country even worse.
My hunch is that by Monday oil will again flow from Russia through Ukraine to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. In the mind of the public the blackmail attempt will be added to his accumulating fails.