Bratislava
Slovakia and Hungary have stated that they will resist pressure from US President Donald Trump to reduce imports of Russian oil and gas until alternative suppliers are secured. Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova and Hungarian Government Minister Gergely Gulyás confirmed that their countries would not take steps that threaten their energy security.
Thousands of people protested across Slovakia against the economic and pro-Russian policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Rallies took place in 16 cities, including the capital Bratislava, due to Fico's trip to China and meeting with Putin, as well as due to austerity measures.
On September 12, 280 passengers departed on direct flights from Uzhhorod to Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna. This marks the beginning of regular service, which opens up new travel opportunities and integrates Ukrainian infrastructure into the European transport space.
Ukrzaliznytsia has started selling tickets for trains from Uzhhorod to Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest on the new European gauge. Trains will start running from September 12, 2025, with tickets available online and on railway websites.
President Zelenskyy opened the Uzhhorod – Chop Eurotrack, connecting Uzhhorod with Bratislava, Košice, Budapest, and Vienna. Trains will start running from September 12, and the Eurotrack will be extended to Lviv.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is responding to Russian strikes on energy facilities and will not tolerate darkness. Ukraine is ready to ensure Slovakia's energy stability by offering joint energy projects without Russian resources.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that negotiations with Putin concerned only bilateral cooperation. He denied information about discussing an energy blockade of Ukraine.
Slovakia aims to conclude an agreement with the European Commission and EU partners by July 15 regarding energy security guarantees. Without these guarantees, the country is blocking a new package of sanctions against Russia, related to the cessation of Russian gas imports.
EU governments are demanding that Brussels keep national plans for phasing out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027 secret. This is due to the desire to avoid influencing market prices and disclosing confidential information.
18-year-old Ukrainian student Maria Bugayova was found dead in Apulia, Italy, near a tourist complex where she was interning. The girl disappeared on July 4, and her body was found hanged.
Stormy weather conditions in Zakarpattia, Slovakia, and Hungary are causing changes in passenger train schedules. Flights from Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava are delayed, and the contact network near Barkasovo and Skole has also been damaged.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the possible embezzlement of €7. 4 million intended for military aid to Ukraine. Eight people have been detained, including four Slovak Ministry of Defence officials.
The Hungarian Prime Minister stated that he would oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU, justifying this by protecting Hungarian interests. He believes that it will harm European families.
Veronika Matiunina became a silver medalist in the individual event and won a bronze in doubles with a Spaniard at the European U-21 Table Tennis Championship. The competitions took place in Bratislava.
A state of emergency has been declared in 55 districts of Slovakia due to brown bears. The government has involved the army to track down the predators, one bear has already been killed.
Orbán and Fico warn the EU against abolishing the unanimity rule, which could allow bypassing Hungary's veto on Ukraine's accession. Both leaders consider this a threat to sovereignty and the destruction of the EU.
The "Slovakia - Europe" rallies against the law on NGOs were held in Slovakia. Protesters called on President Pellegrini to veto the law, which they consider pro-Russian.
The President of Slovakia criticized the creation of separate support groups for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of joint actions within the EU and NATO. He called for unity instead of "pseudo-groups."
Due to the accident on the Czech railway, train No. 122/123 Prague-Chop will run only to Kosice. Passengers will need to transfer to other trains to get to Chop or Prague.
Ukrainian wrestler Andriy Dzhelep won a bronze medal in the weight category up to 61 kg at the European Championship. In the final, he defeated a "neutral" Belarusian with a score of 3:1.
The Ukrainian national team, represented by 30 athletes, is competing at the European Championship in Slovakia. 10 Ukrainian women have already reached the finals of the competition.
Donald Trump Jr. will visit Romania on April 28 as part of an Eastern European tour. The visit will take place a week before the first round of presidential elections.
The Prime Minister of Slovakia accused EU ambassadors of refusing to honor the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava due to the presence of the Russian ambassador. He called their behavior undiplomatic.
Slovakia will significantly increase gas imports from "Gazprom" through the "Turkish Stream" after the suspension of transit through Ukraine. The resumption of transit does not yet have clear deadlines.
A Ukrainian man died in Bratislava after being seriously injured near a shopping center. It is suspected that the man was beaten by security guards after an attempted shoplifting.
Ukraine protested to the Slovak ambassador over Prime Minister Fico's statements about interference in internal affairs. The Foreign Ministry called on Bratislava to stop relaying Kremlin rhetoric and return to constructive dialogue.
Slovakia's prime minister criticized Zelenskyy's comment about the protests in Bratislava as interference in internal affairs. The Ukrainian president had earlier written “Bratislava is not Moscow, Slovakia is Europe.
In Slovakia, massive anti-government protests spread to more than 20 cities, with the largest rally in Bratislava gathering 40,000 people. The protesters oppose the pro-Russian policies of Prime Minister Fico and support European integration.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed dissatisfaction with Ukraine's decision to stop gas transit from 2025. He announced Budapest's possible response and spoke against Ukraine's rapid membership in the EU.
Ukraine's President criticized Slovakia's Prime Minister for refusing Ukrainian gas transit assistance. Zelenskyy calls Fico's bet on cooperation with Russia a losing proposition from the start.