Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukrainian forces of deliberately targeting energy infrastructure in Slovakia and Hungary, warning that Moscow could respond by cutting off gas and electricity to the region if Kyiv continues its actions.

During a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Tuesday, Putin cited Ukraine’s alleged sabotage of the Druzhba pipeline—a critical Russian oil delivery route—to Eastern Europe. He compared the situation to Russia’s own experience of enduring attacks on its energy systems, stating, “We had maintained restraint for years as Ukrainian forces attacked our infrastructure. Eventually, we took countermeasures, and our response now is severe.”

Putin suggested that Slovakia and Hungary, which rely heavily on Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, could face retaliatory measures such as blocking reverse gas flows or cutting electricity supplies. “They will quickly understand the limits of their actions if they continue to harm others’ interests,” he said.

Fico, who plans to confront Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy over the issue this week, rejected European Union efforts to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2027. “We will oppose such decisions,” Fico declared, adding that he believes the RePowerEU initiative will fail before 2028 due to its economic impact on Europe.

Zelenskiy recently ridiculed Ukraine’s pipeline attacks, quipping, “We have always supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary, and now the Druzhba pipeline’s survival depends on Hungarian positions.” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the remarks as “disgraceful,” accusing Kyiv of openly pursuing coercive tactics.

Both Slovakia and Hungary have considered retaliatory energy cuts but have yet to implement them. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military leadership faces criticism for its alleged role in destabilizing regional energy security.