Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, not to Kyiv
Four years into a war that has reshaped Europe's moral geography, Ukraine now finds itself pressured not only by its invader but by two of its own allies — Hungary and Slovakia — who have leveraged energy dependency into a form of diplomatic coercion. The dispute over a Soviet-era oil pipeline, damaged by Russian drones yet blamed on Ukrainian delay, lays bare the fractured loyalties within NATO and the EU, even as Kyiv absorbs fresh terror in Lviv and strikes deep into Russian territory. Against this turbulence, President Zelenskyy holds open the door to peace, signaling readiness for a leaders' summit that could include Trump and Putin — a fragile hope suspended between exhaustion and resolve.
- Hungary and Slovakia have issued stark ultimatums to Ukraine: restore Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline or face electricity cutoffs and blocked reconstruction loans — a form of pressure that Kyiv says belongs in Moscow, not in allied capitals.
- The fracture exposes something deeper than an energy dispute — two NATO and EU members are effectively siding with Russia's leverage over a country their alliance is pledged to support, sharpening the most serious internal confrontation of the war.
- In Lviv, a deliberate double-blast terror attack killed a policewoman and wounded at least fifteen others, the explosions timed to strike first responders arriving at the scene — a reminder that the war's violence reaches far beyond the front lines.
- Ukraine struck the Votkinsk missile factory deep inside Russia using domestically produced cruise missiles, signaling that even as diplomacy stirs, the war continues to expand in geographic and strategic scope.
- Zelenskyy, briefed on Geneva talks between Russia and the United States, is signaling genuine readiness for a leaders-level negotiation involving Trump and Putin — framing urgency around the word 'soon' and the possibility of a dignified end.
Four years and four months into the war, Ukraine is being squeezed from within its own alliance. Hungary and Slovakia have issued ultimatums: restart Russian oil flows through Ukrainian territory, or lose electricity. Hungary went further, threatening to block a €90 billion reconstruction loan. Ukraine's foreign ministry responded with barely concealed exasperation — these ultimatums, it said, belong in Moscow.
The pipeline at the center of the dispute is the Druzhba, a Soviet-era artery still carrying Russian crude to the only two EU and NATO members that significantly depend on it. Shipments halted on January 27th after a Russian drone strike damaged pipeline equipment on Ukrainian soil. Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is deliberately stalling repairs — without evidence. Slovakia's Robert Fico has accused Zelenskyy of acting with malice. The confrontation is the sharpest yet between Kyiv and neighbors who, despite their Western memberships, have maintained conspicuously warm ties with Moscow.
That same night, Lviv was struck by a calculated terror attack. Just after midnight, police responding to a reported break-in encountered the first explosion; a second detonated moments later as backup arrived. One policewoman was killed, at least fifteen people wounded, some critically. Mayor Andriy Sadovy called it an act of terror.
Elsewhere, the war's scope continued to expand. Ukraine struck the Votkinsk missile factory deep inside Russia using domestically made FP-5 cruise missiles, wounding eleven and prompting Russia to suspend flights at nearby airports. A gas plant in Samara was also hit — strikes that underscore how far the conflict has traveled from its original front lines.
In Paris, two thousand people marched in solidarity with Ukraine, demanding frozen Russian assets be seized and returned to Kyiv. European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann noted that public support in France remains firm, but warned that surrender-minded voices are growing louder on both political extremes.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on the UK and European allies to immediately deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine's peaceful regions — a signal, he argued, that Western commitment to Ukrainian freedom remains unshakeable.
President Zelenskyy, after being briefed on Geneva talks between Russia and the United States, struck a carefully hopeful tone. He called for a new round of negotiations to begin very soon — possibly still in February — and said Ukraine is ready for a leaders' format meeting involving Trump and Putin. It is precisely this kind of direct engagement, he suggested, that could prove decisive.
Four years and four months into the war, Ukraine is being squeezed from within its own alliance. On Saturday, Hungary and Slovakia issued ultimatums: restart the flow of Russian oil through Ukrainian territory, or lose electricity. Hungary went further, threatening to block a €90 billion loan meant to help Ukraine rebuild. Ukraine's foreign ministry responded with a statement that carried the weight of exasperation: the ultimatums should go to Moscow, not Kyiv.
The oil pipeline in question is the Druzhba, a Soviet-era artery that still carries Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia—the only two EU and NATO members that depend significantly on it. Shipments stopped on January 27th after what Ukraine says was a Russian drone strike that damaged pipeline equipment in the western part of the country. Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is deliberately delaying repairs, offering no evidence. The dispute has become the sharpest confrontation yet between Kyiv and two neighbors that, despite their NATO membership, have chosen to maintain close ties with Moscow. Slovakia's leader, Robert Fico, has accused President Zelenskyy of acting with malice toward his country.
The same night the diplomatic crisis deepened, Lviv was struck by explosions that killed a policewoman and wounded at least fifteen people. The blasts came just after midnight on Sunday, when police responded to a reported break-in at a shop in the city center. The first explosion hit as the initial patrol arrived; a second detonated moments later when a second crew reached the scene. Mayor Andriy Sadovy called it an act of terror. Some of the wounded were in very serious condition.
Meanwhile, the conflict itself continued its grinding momentum. Ukraine struck a major missile factory deep inside Russia—the Votkinsk plant in the Udmurt Republic—using domestically made FP-5 cruise missiles. Eleven people were wounded. Russia suspended flights at nearby airports. Ukraine also reported hitting a gas plant in Samara. These strikes, deep into Russian territory, underscore how the war has expanded in scope even as diplomatic channels are being explored.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion, called for the UK and European allies to immediately deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine in peaceful regions. The move, he argued, would signal to Putin that the West remains committed to Ukraine's freedom. Johnson had been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters during the early months of the conflict.
In Paris, about two thousand people marched on Saturday in support of Ukraine. Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding that frozen Russian assets be confiscated and returned to Kyiv. European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann noted that public support for Ukraine in France remains strong, but warned that voices calling for surrender are growing louder among French politicians on both the far left and far right.
President Zelenskyy, after being briefed on this week's peace talks in Geneva involving Russia and the United States, signaled that real opportunities to end the war with dignity still exist. He called for another round of talks to begin very soon—possibly still in February. Ukraine, he said, has prepared responses to the most difficult questions and is ready for a leaders' format meeting that would include Trump and Putin. It is this kind of direct engagement, Zelenskyy suggested, that could prove decisive.
Citações Notáveis
Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv.— Ukraine's Foreign Ministry
This is definitely an act of terror. We have 15 people currently receiving medical aid, some of them are in very serious condition. One policewoman died.— Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy
Real opportunities to end war with dignity still exist, and Ukraine is ready for a leaders' format meeting.— President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why would Hungary and Slovakia risk their standing in NATO and the EU by siding with Russia on this?
Because they never fully broke with Moscow. They're EU and NATO members, but they've maintained economic and political ties to Russia that the rest of Europe severed. The oil pipeline is real—they depend on it. But the ultimatum is about leverage, about showing they can't be ignored.
And Ukraine can't just restart the oil flow?
Ukraine says a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline. That's not something you fix overnight, and even if you could, restarting Russian oil flows while the war is ongoing feels like capitulation. Ukraine is saying: if you want oil, pressure Russia to stop the war, not us to enable it.
What does a €90 billion loan block actually mean for Ukraine?
It's reconstruction money—the kind of capital that lets a country rebuild after devastation. Blocking it doesn't just hurt Ukraine's economy; it's a signal that even within the alliance, there are members willing to weaponize aid.
The terror attack in Lviv—is that connected to the energy dispute?
Not directly. But the timing matters. Ukraine is under pressure from neighbors, being struck by Russian missiles, and now facing what authorities call a terror attack in a western city. The pressure is coming from multiple directions at once.
Zelenskyy is talking about peace talks. Is he weakening?
Or he's reading the room. If even NATO members are threatening to cut off support, and if there's a real path to negotiations, maybe the calculation shifts. He's saying Ukraine is ready to talk, but on its terms—at the leaders' level, with dignity intact.