Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday that he will meet EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, warning that Slovakia may block a major EU loan to Kyiv, Reuters reports.

Hungary has vetoed new EU sanctions against Russia and a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. Fico repeated his threat to block the loan in a Facebook video on Sunday, saying he will meet von der Leyen in Paris and insist that experts visit the Druzhba pipeline.

"But the most important message will be that Slovakia is ready to take the baton from Hungary if necessary," Fico said regarding the loan. "Blocking this enormous military gift to Ukraine is a legitimate instrument for restoring oil supplies."

Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine have been suspended since late January, after Kyiv said a Russian attack caused a fire that severely damaged the pipeline. The suspension has sparked one of the sharpest disputes between the neighbors since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine says the pipeline cannot be repaired quickly, leading to accusations and political tensions, with Hungary and Slovakia — EU members that still import Russian oil and maintain ties with Moscow — accusing Kyiv of deliberately delaying the restart for political reasons.