Slovakia
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will try next week to persuade US President Donald Trump to grant Hungary an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil. Landlocked Hungary claims there are no viable alternatives to Russian oil.
The European Commission is considering legal action against Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, which maintain unilateral bans on imports of Ukrainian goods. These bans violate EU single market rules after the updated trade agreement with Ukraine came into force.
From January 2026, Slovakia will introduce a speed limit of 6 km/h on sidewalks for cyclists, skaters, and electric scooter riders. This new measure aims to increase safety and reduce the number of collisions.
In October, Petro Poroshenko declared over 55 million hryvnias in income, of which almost 52. 5 million came from the Ministry of Finance of Hungary. This is the return of principal and interest on Hungarian government bonds, as well as over 2.4 million hryvnias in interest from capital withdrawn from Ukraine.
Slovakia offers Ukrainian graduates free education at public universities, a European diploma, and employment opportunities. The cost of living for students is 400-500 euros per month, which is half as much as in neighboring countries.
Most Ukrainian arms manufacturers are seeking safe working conditions abroad due to Russian aggression. The main reasons are the inability to export products and insufficient volumes of state orders.
Andrej Babiš, leader of the ANO movement, has agreed on a government coalition with the right-conservative Motoristen party and the anti-European SPD. Babiš previously stated that he would not provide Ukraine with money for weapons from the budget.
The European Union has significantly increased imports of diesel and jet fuel from other countries, preparing for restrictions on petroleum products produced from Russian crude oil. From October 1 to 20, almost 1.9 million barrels of fuel arrived at EU ports, which could become a monthly record.
Hungary seeks to join forces with the Czech Republic and Slovakia to form an alliance of Ukraine skeptics in the EU. This could complicate EU efforts to provide financial and military support to Ukraine.
The United States of America expects Hungary to abandon the purchase of Russian oil. The US also calls on China to pressure Moscow to end the war against Ukraine, as Beijing supplies Russia with significant volumes of oil, gas, and dual-use technologies.
Queues at the Ukrainian-Polish border are caused by an increase in passenger traffic during the autumn holidays, and not by the new EU control system. SBGS spokesman Andriy Demchenko noted that the system operates only at three checkpoints.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country will not participate in EU initiatives for military support to Ukraine, considering Brussels' plans to provide Kyiv with 140 billion euros as "the biggest mistake. " The head of Slovak diplomacy, Juraj Blanár, denied Slovakia's isolation, citing the support of partners in exceptions for the export of Russian oil products.
The European Union purchased half of Russia's total LNG exports from February 2022 to September 2025. Hungary, Slovakia, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are key importers of Russian gas.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his government will never sign a loan guarantee for Ukraine for military expenditures. Slovakia will not spend a single cent from its own budget for these purposes, but is ready to help Ukraine with humanitarian issues.
The leadership of the Netherlands and Romania believe that Lukoil will sell its plants located in the territories of these countries.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the country is working on how to circumvent US sanctions against Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft.
In Rostov-on-Don, Russians sentenced the administrator of a Telegram channel from Melitopol to 14 years, accusing her of terrorism.
The European Union is preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, for the first time including two independent Chinese oil refineries and one trading company. These entities are involved in circumventing Western restrictions, increasing pressure on Beijing.
The European Union is preparing to approve the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas from 2027. The package also targets Russian banks, lenders in Central Asia, and cryptocurrency exchanges, expanding trade restrictions and blacklisting oil tankers.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced evidence of attempts to disrupt a meeting between US and Russian representatives in Budapest. He called for an unhindered Trump-Putin summit with EU support.
Ukraine's allies are seeking to strengthen its position ahead of Trump-Putin talks, fearing a bad deal. They are preparing a support package that includes funding, weapons, and new sanctions against Russia, and plan to involve Zelenskyy in any negotiations.
The Czech Republic has offered Slovakia accelerated gas support after the EU approved a phased withdrawal from Russian gas by January 2028. Hungary and Slovakia disagreed with the plan, citing energy security risks, but the Czech Republic is ready to help.
72-year-old Juraj Cintula was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The court took advantage of the possibility of an extraordinary reduction of the sentence, although the attack was recognized as an act of terrorism.
Cyprus criminalizes the provision of economic resources to sanctioned individuals, which may include accounts in sanctioned Russian banks for Russians with Cypriot passports. This is the implementation of a European Parliament directive, which only seven EU countries had implemented by May 20.
European Union energy ministers have agreed on a common position to ban all gas supplies from Russia by the end of 2027. This decision aims to completely end the bloc's dependence on Russian energy carriers.
The Ukrainian authorities plan to find $2 billion to purchase gas in a difficult situation; sources of financing and suppliers have already been identified. President Zelenskyy assured that the gas issue would be resolved.
EU energy ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to agree on a common position regarding a ban on all gas supplies from Russia by the end of 2027. The ban on short-term contracts will begin by mid-June, with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia.
Law enforcement officers in Zakarpattia have uncovered over 270 organizers of illegal border crossing schemes, with 174 indictments sent to court. The total amount of illicit gains exceeds 1.6 million US dollars.
Ukraine will expand its diplomatic presence in Slovakia by opening a Consulate General in Prešov by the end of the year. This will improve consular services for Ukrainians in eastern Slovakia.
Slovakia will transfer a new energy equipment package worth 500,000 euros to Ukraine. The country will also allocate 300,000 euros for the construction of shelters in schools in frontline areas.