Ukraine Responds to Russian Energy Strikes, Targets Pipelines to Hungary, Slovakia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is actively responding to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure and will continue to do so, emphasizing that no one will endure living in the dark. Concurrently, Ukraine is prepared to supply Slovakia with gas and oil to help ensure its energy stability amid the conflict. Zelenskyy has also framed Ukraine's strikes on the Russian Druzhba oil pipeline—which supplies Russian and Kazakh crude to Hungary and Slovakia—as a form of sanctions targeting EU nations that continue to import Russian oil, arguing these actions are legitimate pressure against countries financing Russia's war effort. These attacks have led to strong condemnations from Hungary and Slovakia, with both countries calling on the European Commission to ensure the security of critical energy infrastructure and threatening retaliation, including Slovakia's warning of harsh responses and Hungary's plans to develop alternative pipelines. US President Donald Trump has expressed displeasure both with EU nations for buying Russian oil and with Ukraine's attacks on the pipeline, reflecting tensions among allies regarding energy security and the ongoing war. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical energy dynamics intertwined with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the broader European energy security landscape.