Bratislava, April 4, 2026 – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called on the European Union to urgently reconsider its sanctions on Russian oil and gas, warning that ongoing disruptions in global energy markets caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran are placing severe strain on vulnerable member states. In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, Fico argued that the bloc must reopen dialogue with Moscow to secure alternative supplies and stabilize prices.
The appeal follows a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally who shares similar views on energy policy. Fico urged the European Commission and EU leaders to create the necessary “political and legal environment” for member states to import oil and gas from all available sources, explicitly including Russia.
“The EU and especially the European Commission should immediately resume dialogue with Russia and ensure such a political and legal environment that individual member states and the EU as a whole can replenish missing gas and oil supplies and enable the delivery of these strategic raw materials from all possible sources and directions, including Russia,” Fico said, according to TVP World.
Global energy markets have been thrown into turmoil since Iran significantly restricted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the ongoing military conflict that began on February 28. The narrow waterway, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has seen reduced traffic, driving international benchmark prices sharply higher. European countries, already grappling with the aftermath of reduced Russian supplies since 2022, are now facing a renewed energy shock that threatens industrial output, household heating costs, and inflation targets.
Slovakia, which remains heavily reliant on piped Russian oil and gas despite diversification efforts, is among the hardest-hit nations. The country has limited access to liquefied natural gas terminals and depends significantly on the Druzhba pipeline network for crude supplies. Fico emphasized that current sanctions, while politically motivated, are now counterproductive given the fresh disruptions from the Middle East.
Both Slovakia and Hungary continue to enjoy partial exemptions from certain EU sanctions on Russian oil precisely because of their infrastructure limitations and lack of viable short-term alternatives. Fico and Orbán have jointly pushed for the restoration of full flows through the Druzhba pipeline, which has been operating at reduced capacity. The two leaders have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying repairs and resumption of deliveries for political reasons. Kyiv has firmly rejected these claims, stating that damage from a Russian drone strike earlier this year is still being repaired and that safety concerns prevent immediate full operations.
The renewed push by Fico highlights deepening divisions within the European Union over energy strategy and relations with Russia. While Western and Northern European countries have largely supported maintaining pressure on Moscow in solidarity with Ukraine, several Central European nations argue that rigid sanctions are now harming European citizens more than their intended target. Energy prices across the continent have climbed steadily since late February, compounding the inflationary effects already triggered by the Iran conflict.
Economic analysts warn that prolonged instability in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe could push parts of Central Europe toward recession. Slovakia’s industry, particularly its large automotive sector, is highly sensitive to energy costs. “We cannot afford to maintain ideological positions when factories risk closing and households struggle to pay bills,” a senior Slovak government official said on condition of anonymity.
Fico’s statement aligns with a broader pattern of his government’s pragmatic — and often controversial — approach to foreign policy since returning to power. The Slovak leader has consistently criticized EU sanctions policy, arguing that it has failed to deliver decisive results while imposing heavy costs on the European economy. His call for renewed dialogue with Russia is likely to draw sharp criticism from Kyiv and from EU capitals such as Warsaw, Vilnius, and Berlin, where officials view any softening toward Moscow as premature while Russian troops remain in Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has maintained the most Russia-friendly stance within the EU, is expected to echo Fico’s position in coming days. The two leaders have formed a notable bloc within the Visegrád Group, frequently coordinating positions on energy, migration, and EU decision-making. Their joint pressure comes at a sensitive moment, as the EU debates further sanctions packages and additional financial support for Ukraine.
The European Commission has so far shown little willingness to reopen sanctions discussions. A spokesperson reiterated on Friday that existing measures remain necessary to limit Russia’s ability to fund its military campaign. However, internal documents suggest growing concern in Brussels over the cumulative impact of multiple energy shocks. Several southern and eastern member states have quietly begun exploring emergency import options, including renewed talks with alternative suppliers in North Africa, Central Asia, and the United States.
The Druzhba pipeline dispute adds another layer of complexity. Technical teams from Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine have held intermittent talks, but political mistrust continues to hinder progress. Ukraine insists that any resumption must not benefit Russia’s war effort, while Budapest and Bratislava argue that stable energy supplies are a humanitarian and economic necessity independent of the broader conflict.
For ordinary citizens in Slovakia, the stakes are immediate. Fuel prices at pumps have risen noticeably in recent weeks, and utility companies have warned of potential increases in heating bills ahead of next winter. Public support for Fico’s energy realism remains strong in polls, particularly among industrial workers and rural communities.
Critics, however, accuse Fico of undermining European unity at a dangerous time. Ukrainian officials described the Slovak position as “short-sighted” and likely to embolden Russian aggression. EU energy commissioner candidates have warned that reversing sanctions could send the wrong signal and prolong the conflict.
Nevertheless, Fico’s intervention reflects a growing chorus of voices arguing that energy policy must adapt to new realities. With the Strait of Hormuz crisis showing no signs of quick resolution and winter demand approaching, several analysts predict that more member states may quietly support selective easing of Russian energy restrictions.
The coming weeks will test the EU’s ability to balance strategic solidarity with pragmatic economic needs. Emergency energy ministers’ meetings are expected in Brussels as prices continue to climb. For Slovakia and Hungary, the message is clear: in an era of multiple overlapping crises, rigid ideological approaches to energy security are no longer sustainable.
Fico’s call may not immediately shift EU policy, but it amplifies a debate that is becoming impossible for Brussels to ignore. As the continent faces its third major energy shock in four years, the question of whether sanctions against Russia can coexist with energy affordability for all member states has returned to center stage.
