BRATISLAVA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday asked the state-run Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS) to suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine over the Druzhba pipeline dispute, according to the News Agency of the Slovak Republic.
"As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilizing the Ukrainian energy grid, it won't receive such assistance," Fico said in a social media post.
He said that the measure will be lifted immediately after the resumption of oil supplies to Slovakia. "Otherwise, we'll take further reciprocal measures," Fico added.
Oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended following an attack on the pipeline on Jan. 27, Ukrainian officials said. Slovakia later declared an oil emergency and claimed that Ukraine was deliberately stopping oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline. ■