Italy is a partner in many challenges, Ukraine should reactivate the Druzhba oil pipeline.

There are no “open issues” between Italy and Slovakia; on the contrary, “there are many challenges that we are facing together and in which Italy is a partner.” This was stated by the Foreign Minister of Slovakia, Juraj Blanar, ad “Nova Agency”. Not only that, “but we also have excellent political relations.” “We greatly appreciate the approach of your Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni”, which is “very concrete.” “It clearly states that there must be a certain balance between the green approach and the economy,” and the government of the Slovak Prime Minister also Robert Fico, “It’s struggling within the European Union because there’s a major competitiveness problem,” Blanar noted. “The Green Deal should be more realistic than it is now,” he said, noting in particular the need to review the ban on combustion engines by the end of 2035 and reform the Emissions Trading Mechanism (ETS).

“Bilateral cooperation (with Italy) is very important for us, and trade is also significant. Furthermore, four hundred Italian companies operate in Slovakia,” the minister stated, noting that Italy ranks sixth in terms of direct investments in the Central European country. Among the sectors in which Slovakia is particularly interested in strengthening cooperation with Italy—in addition to automotive, IT, and green energy—is the nuclear sector. The minister recalled the signing last year of two strategic agreements between the Italian startup Newcleo and the Slovakian companies Javys and Vuje for the development of advanced nuclear technologies on Slovakian soil. “Italy has embarked on a process to review its decision to abandon nuclear energy,” and Slovakia “is very strong” in the sector. “We would like to collaborate to develop the fourth generation of so-called small modular reactors together with Newcleo,” whose founder and CEO, Stephen Good, He is also the honorary consul of Slovakia in Turin. “This is a very important part of future Italian-Slovak cooperation,” and Bratislava has a solid nuclear base: “We are completing the sixth reactor and preparing the seventh.” “We would like to be able to use spent nuclear fuel, and the collaboration” with Newcleo “can help us do that,” Blanar continued.

The minister was in Rome on Tuesday for a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani Their meeting was dedicated, among other things, to “cooperation within NATO, the Safe (Security Action for Europe) program,” and issues such as Ukraine and the ongoing crisis in Iran and the Middle East. Another significant topic is EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, “on which we are very committed, together with Italy.” Just Tuesday, Rome was supposed to host a meeting of foreign ministers from the Friends of the Western Balkans group and their regional counterparts, but it was later canceled due to the crisis in the Middle East.

For several weeks, a heated dispute has raged between Slovakia and Hungary on the one hand and Ukraine on the other over the Druzhba pipeline. Kiev claims that a Russian attack on an oil pumping station in eastern Ukraine damaged the infrastructure, which has stopped supplying crude oil to Slovakia and Hungary since January 27. Bratislava and Budapest, however, maintain that the Druzhba pipeline has not yet been reactivated for political, rather than technical, reasons. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, proposed to Prime Minister Fico a meeting in Ukraine on March 6 or 9. Since January 27, “we have not received information on what happened”, “information and disinformation are circulating” and the Hungarian Prime Minister himself, Victor Orban, Ukraine showed satellite images that “clearly demonstrate that there is no damage that could cause problems with the flow of oil,” Minister Blanar asserted. “Together with the Hungarian side, we are asking the European Commission to help us inspect the site to see what really happened,” the minister said. “But there is no response from Ukraine. How could a meeting with Zelensky help us? A phone call would be enough to resolve the problem (…), to explain that the damage is serious,” but “none of this has happened,” he noted. Kiev “is required to respect its obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU and to persuade us that there is serious damage that has caused the stoppage of supplies. We are working on this and a meeting could follow,” the Foreign Minister stated. Prime Minister Fico “has been very clear: we must resolve this problem together with the European Union,” especially after the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, which on the energy front “can damage us even more than before.” “Our prime minister is ready to meet Zelensky – no problem – but we need to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” Blanar insisted.

At the end of 2025, EU energy ministers approved an agreement to ban all energy imports from Russia starting January 1, 2028, marking a decisive step toward ending decades of energy dependence on Moscow. Media reports indicate that after Hungary’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for April 12, the European Commission may present a binding proposal for a permanent ban on Russian oil imports. Blanar was clear on this point: “This is illogical” because “it could have a significant impact on the competitiveness of the European Union itself,” and not just Slovakia and Hungary. “We would also lose out in terms of competition with the United States and China,” he warned. Therefore, “we would be decidedly opposed to such a decision. Without a doubt.” The Foreign Minister also noted that “15 percent of the total diesel consumed in Ukraine comes from our refineries,” which also produce for “the Czech Republic, Austria,” and others. Regarding gas, too, Norway “clearly told us that we must reconsider the decision to stop purchasing natural gas from the Russian Federation because the situation has changed.” In the EU, “we were at the beginning of the transportation network, but now we are at the end. There are many bottlenecks around us,” and “the problem affects both natural gas and crude oil,” Blanar stated. The only alternative way to transport oil to Slovakia is the Adria pipeline, operated by the Croatian company Janaf, “and it is unclear whether this pipeline is efficient enough for Slovakia and Hungary itself. (…) There are probably possibilities from the Czech Republic as well, but it is not yet certain whether we can do so not only for crude oil, but also for natural gas,” the minister warned.

In addition to the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, a new scenario of instability has emerged in recent days with the Israeli-American attack on Iran and the subsequent retaliation by the Tehran regime. Regarding the possibility that the military escalation could be reversed and open up negotiations again, Blanar admitted he “doesn’t have a crystal ball.” “I don’t see into the minds of those making decisions regarding the conflict. What I can say very clearly is that what happened, on the part of Israel and the United States, is a violation of international law. It’s very clear,” the minister asserted. The United States “is our partner” and “we have a good relationship with Israel,” from which Bratislava has also ordered an anti-missile system. Nevertheless, “international law is not optional.” “It’s not that when ‘the good guys’ violate international law it’s okay, while when ‘the bad guys’ do it it’s not okay,” Blanar said. “I was quite optimistic (about the negotiations), especially based on the information coming from Oman, because they were trying to mediate the talks,” he said. However, “they suddenly changed their minds and started missile strikes. (…) This is a very treacherous and very dangerous policy,” he added. Obviously, “we don’t think it’s a good idea for Iran to attack other countries in the Gulf region,” he clarified regarding the Iranian military retaliation. “Only a diplomatic solution and dialogue can solve the problem. Otherwise, the security of all of Europe and global security will be in danger, believe me,” Blanar continued. The Slovak Foreign Minister warned of the risk of “a destabilization of the internal situation in Iran, because it could happen.” It is a country of approximately 92 million inhabitants and “if a civil war were to break out, it could cause a huge wave of migration to the European Union. It could be even worse than the war in Syria.” Furthermore, regarding energy, “it could cause global problems.” “Only dialogue and negotiation can succeed. No military action like the one we are witnessing now,” Minister Blanar reiterated.

Italy is a partner in many challenges, Ukraine should reactivate the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Tags: