Slovakia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Hungary and Slovakia next week. The visit comes after Donald Trump endorsed Viktor Orban, who is trailing in the polls ahead of the elections.

Today, an additional 9 MW of capacity is planned to be launched in Kyiv. This will help stabilize the electricity supply after Russian attacks.

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini considers the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine a mistake, as the country did not have a full replacement for them. He refuted claims that the aircraft were unusable.

The lower house of the Czech parliament rejected the opposition's proposal to dismiss the coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The attempt to declare a vote of no confidence garnered only 84 votes, allowing the current cabinet to remain in power.

The EU Council has approved a legal framework for providing Ukraine with financial support of 90 billion euros, with the exception of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The funds will be directed to budget support and defense needs, and the first payment is expected in early Q2.

In Kyiv, 63 teams are working on restoring power grids, and over 220 teams are restoring heat supply. NJSC "Naftogaz" is ready to provide another 40 teams of specialists.

The US Department of Justice has released millions of pages of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, detailing his connections with influential figures, including Steve Bannon and Elon Musk. These files have caused political uproar and led to the resignations of high-ranking officials in various countries.

Slovak Prime Minister's advisor Miroslav Lajčák resigned after correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein was made public. Robert Fico accepted the resignation, defending Lajčák and criticizing the media.

The European Union plans to provide Ukraine with the first tranche of financial assistance within the framework of a new 90 billion euro loan package in April. This assistance is designed for 2026-2027, of which 60 billion euros will go to military needs, and 30 billion euros - to budget support.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico denied a Politico report about his concerns over Donald Trump's condition. He called the article "a lie" and stated that he did not speak at the summit where he allegedly made such assessments.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed concern about Donald Trump's "psychological state" after their meeting on January 17. Fico called Trump "dangerous," which shocked European diplomats.

Hungary and Slovakia will challenge the EU's ban on Russian gas imports in court. The countries state that this contradicts their national interests.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the peace plan for Ukraine envisages its accession to the European Union on January 1, 2027. However, he noted that some EU member states, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, would not agree to this.

According to the source, the 80-year-old former coach of Donetsk "Shakhtar" and Kyiv "Dynamo" suffered from a cold this winter. Despite Lucescu undergoing intensive treatment, his health failed him.

The driver of the Košice-Svaliava regular bus tried to break through the border in Uzhhorod to avoid detention. The 49-year-old man was wanted and fled to Slovakia, leaving the bus.

MEPs will vote on providing Ukraine with a €90 billion support loan at the next plenary session. This instrument will provide military and budgetary support, as well as support Ukraine's defense industry.

Increased electricity imports from the EU do not guarantee overcoming the consequences of blackouts due to limited volumes and high costs. Expert Yuriy Korolchuk explains that the maximum import volume is 2.45 GW, with the main volumes occurring during night hours when the price is lower.

Countries that have been waiting for years to join the EU are divided over plans to become members without full voting rights. Some insist on all the benefits, while others are happy to be at the negotiating table.

Hungarian energy company Mol Nyrt. is nearing a takeover of Serbia's sole oil refinery as U.S. sanctions force Russia's Gazprom Neft PJSC to sell its controlling stake. Hungary will ask U.S. authorities to lift sanctions on the Serbian refinery.

European crypto exchange WhiteBIT is launching a Global Talent Program for Ukrainian developers. The program will last four months and transform Junior+ developers into blockchain professionals.

Top Slovak officials, including the president, the speaker of the National Council, and the prime minister, have advocated for an end to military aid to Ukraine. The country will also not send soldiers or participate in guarantees for a large loan from the European Commission.

Slovakia and the US will sign an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy. It envisages the construction of a new 1200 MW power unit at the Jaslovské Bohunice NPP.

Ukraine has become a member of the UNESCO Steering Committee on Quality Education for the first time, a global body coordinating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4. This gives Ukraine the opportunity to influence the formation of global educational priorities.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the country's possible participation in monitoring a peace agreement or truce in Ukraine. Slovakia is ready to cooperate in non-military areas, but will not send soldiers or provide weapons.

Pedestrian and cyclist crossing has been introduced at the international checkpoint "Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké" on the Ukrainian-Slovak border. As of January 5, almost a thousand citizens have already used the pedestrian lane.

After the New Year holidays, the longest queues at the border are observed in the Polish direction, which complicates crossing for drivers and passengers. The State Border Guard Service advises taking into account the possible unstable operation of electronic systems of control services at checkpoints.

In early January 2026, the capacity for electricity imports from the EU to Ukraine-Moldova increased to 2450 MW. This was the result of cooperation between transmission system operators and increases the resilience of Ukraine's energy system.

According to Kaliňák, Ukraine will never be in NATO. In his opinion, Ukraine will also have problems joining the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba summarized the results of 2025 in the transport industry, noting an increase in seats on international trains and the launch of the Eurotrack. The "transport visa-free regime" with the EU was extended, and digital systems such as eCherha and e-TTN were introduced.

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe in 2025 decreased by 44% to 18 billion cubic meters, which is the lowest figure since the mid-1970s. This happened after the closure of the Ukrainian route and the cessation of fossil fuel imports from Russia.