In high diplomacy — quiet agreements
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico on March 12 published an open letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he insists on restoring oil transit through the "Druzhba" pipeline. The message draws attention not only for its economic arguments — more than 180,000 Ukrainians live in Slovakia — but also for the European Commission's offer to finance possible repairs.
What Bratislava is asking for
Fico put forward three key requests: to restore transit as soon as possible; in the event of damage, to allow an inspection by the European Commission and relevant experts; and to accept the EC's proposal to finance the repairs and make use of Slovakia's repair capabilities. The document bears the signatures of the leaders of Hlas – SD and SNS, while spaces for other parliamentary parties remained empty.
"This causes not only economic damage but also creates serious logistical problems. It's a decision that can be compared to a unilateral halt of gas transit… Slovakia, in accordance with EU decisions and the exemptions from sanctions against the Russian Federation, has the right to continue purchasing oil of Russian origin"
— Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia
Why it matters for Ukraine
The decision on transit affects three levels of interest: economic (revenues from transit fees), logistical (fuel supply routes for neighboring countries) and security (the risk of new strikes on infrastructure and on repair teams). Kyiv has already offered Budapest and Bratislava alternative supply routes, and stresses that certain damages to the pipeline were the result of hostile strikes and that repair works are being subjected to attacks.
Consequences and possible scenarios
If an inspection by the European Commission confirms the technical feasibility of repairs, this would provide the legal and financial basis for restoring transit. But without clear security guarantees, each restoration will remain vulnerable. For Ukraine this means: agree to inspections and financing — but only on the condition that repair works are protected and coordinated with defense and intelligence matters.
Summary
Fico's letter raises a simple but significant question: will European statements be turned into practical measures that protect infrastructure while taking into account Ukraine's security risks? The answer depends on coordination between Kyiv, Bratislava and Brussels — technical inspections, financing of repairs and, above all, security guarantees for repair crews.
