Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised Slovakia’s Moscow-friendly prime minister for taking what he called an “independent” foreign policy line, and suggested that Bratislava retaliate against Ukraine by cutting off gas and electricity supplies.

Putin met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, where the Slovak leader was the only European Union head of government attending World War II commemorations.

Fico has long criticized Kyiv and resisted tougher EU sanctions on Moscow, arguing they threaten Slovakia’s energy security.

“We highly value the independent foreign policy that you and your government are pursuing,” Putin told Fico, as reported by Russian state media RIA Novosti. He went further, urging Slovakia to pressure Kyiv directly.

“Ukraine receives a significant volume of energy resources through its neighbors in eastern Europe. Shut off gas supplies that go in reverse. Shut off electricity supplies, and they will immediately understand there are limits to their behavior,” Putin said.

Slovakia remains heavily reliant on Russian gas and oil and has denounced Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure – attacks Kyiv calls legitimate retaliation for Moscow’s nightly missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities and power plants.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries crude to Slovakia and Hungary. The EU banned most Russian oil imports in 2022 but exempted Druzhba to give landlocked Central European states time to diversify.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said last week that Ukrainian attacks on the pipeline threatened Slovakia’s national interests while bringing “little benefit” to Kyiv. The Druzhba route was hit three times in August, briefly halting deliveries to Hungary.

“This infrastructure is very important for us,” Blanár told Slovak broadcaster JOJ TV. “Especially when we see that Ukraine itself is harming its own interests and risks being left without enough fuel on its territory.”

Slovnaft, Slovakia’s main refinery, processes Russian oil delivered via Druzhba and also supplies about 10% of Ukraine’s monthly diesel needs, Blanár said. He added that he raised the issue with Ukrainian officials and plans further talks this month.

Hungary and Slovakia have filed complaints with the European Commission over the strikes, and Blanár recalled that the EU in January declared energy infrastructure “untouchable.” He called for both Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks.

“Only a peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine can stop mutual attacks on energy infrastructure,” Blanár said.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, strikes on Russian enterprises and energy facilities this year have inflicted an estimated $74 billion in losses – roughly 4% of Russia’s GDP – with most targets being refineries, storage depots and pumping stations.

Fico is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, despite his repeated public criticism of Kyiv’s leadership.