Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened in Bratislava on January 21 to address mounting threats to the TurkStream natural gas pipeline. The meeting follows an alleged Ukrainian attempt to sabotage the pipeline, which Russia described as an act of “energy terrorism” aimed at disrupting gas supplies to Europe.
TurkStream, a critical link between Russia and the EU, runs under the Black Sea and through several countries, including Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. It is the sole remaining operational gas pipeline connecting Russia to Europe. Any damage to it would trigger a severe energy crisis in Central Europe.
Ukraine recently allowed its gas transit agreement with Russia’s Gazprom to lapse, halting exports through the Brotherhood pipeline. The move has hit Slovakia hard, with Fico condemning Kyiv’s actions. In a Facebook video on Saturday, Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of driving up energy costs for Europe and pressuring the EU to rely on expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
“Zelensky simply wants to stop any flow of gas from east to west so that gas can flow from west to east, especially from the United States to Europe,” Fico stated. He criticized Ukraine for its attack on TurkStream and hinted at Slovakia’s readiness to retaliate, saying, “Zelensky is forcing us to reciprocate, and we will do it.”
Fico also declared his intention to veto any additional EU financial aid to Ukraine, leveraging the European Council’s unanimity requirement.
Both Fico and Orbán have consistently advocated for peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine while refusing to supply military aid. They remain vocal critics of EU sanctions on Russia and have individually met with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the onset of the war, drawing ire from Western European leaders.
Fico and Orbán share a similar disdain for the EU’s liberal-leaning leadership, frequently opposing measures that could erode national sovereignty. Fico has cautioned against EU integration efforts that aim to create a “European superstate,” aligning with Orbán’s staunch defense of member states’ autonomy.
Back home, Fico faces political turbulence. His centrist-liberal opposition has called for a no-confidence vote, accusing him of steering Slovakia closer to Moscow. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23.
Fico has dismissed the opposition’s actions as an attempted coup and accused opposition leader Michal Šimečka of making secret promises during a recent visit to Kyiv. According to Fico, these commitments included NATO membership for Ukraine and the deployment of Slovak soldiers to the conflict—a notion he firmly opposes.
“We will never support Ukraine’s membership in NATO because it would only lead to World War III,” Fico asserted.
The meeting between Fico and Orbán highlights the growing divide within the EU over Ukraine and energy policy. Both leaders stand as prominent voices challenging the bloc’s unified stance on the war and its broader geopolitical strategy. As the TurkStream pipeline remains under threat, the stakes for Central Europe’s energy security—and its political cohesion—continue to rise.
