Hungary, Slovakia Push Back on US Demands to Cut Russian Oil

Slovakia has reaffirmed its continued reliance on Russian oil despite mounting pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, joining Hungary in resisting calls to halt energy imports from Moscow.

During a meeting in New York this week, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini told Trump that Slovakia cannot swiftly replace Russian oil and gas supplies due to significant technical and logistical constraints. He emphasized the need for a diversified energy strategy, calling for three to four alternative sources to secure the country’s energy needs.

“Great meeting with the U.S. President! We discussed a key issue, Slovakia's energy security,” Pellegrini posted on social media platform X. “Depending on a single supplier is not enough. Our industries need three or four sources for both oil and gas.”

In a statement from his office, Pellegrini further clarified that while Slovakia is open to transitioning away from Russian energy, the country requires international technical and logistical support to do so.

“If a change is to occur in the coming years, it must be through diversification. We cannot simply swap dependency on Russia for dependency on the U.S.,” he said. Trump: “Do Something About It”

According to Slovak officials, Trump listened attentively to the Slovak argument, smiling during the conversation but urging action. “He told me directly: Do something about it,” Pellegrini recalled.

Trump has been lobbying both Slovakia and Hungary, the remaining two EU member states still heavily dependent on Russian oil, to end imports in a move aimed at cutting off financial lifelines fueling the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also rejected Trump's request, warning that cutting off Russian energy would cripple Hungary’s economy.

Slovakia, a landlocked country bordering Ukraine, currently receives much of its oil via the Druzhba pipeline, a Soviet-era route that remains operational despite ongoing EU sanctions on Russian energy.

Bloomberg reported on September 20 that the European Union is considering trade measures to target the remaining Russian oil imports via the Druzhba pipeline. EU data from May shows that Russian oil accounted for just 3% of total crude imports—down from 27% before the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, Trump is also pressuring Turkey and India to stop buying Russian oil, stepping up his diplomatic campaign to isolate the Kremlin economically.