Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday emphasized the necessity of building 'strong relations' with Slovakia during a phone conversation with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The communication was aimed at mending and fortifying diplomatic ties between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy conveyed his sentiments on US social media platform X following the call, expressing optimism about Slovakia's support for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union. He noted Slovakia's willingness to share its experience in the accession process as a positive development. Further, Zelenskyy extended an invitation to Prime Minister Fico to visit Kyiv and acknowledged an invitation to visit Bratislava, indicating that their teams would coordinate to schedule these visits.

The conversation follows a protracted diplomatic crisis between Kyiv and Bratislava, initiated by the cessation of Russian crude oil transits through the southern section of the Druzhba pipeline since late January, attributed by Ukraine to a Russian strike. In contrast, Slovakia and Hungary accused Ukraine of intentionally halting the oil flow through the pipeline to gain political leverage, prompting Slovakia to suspend diesel fuel exports to Ukraine.

Recently, Slovakia confirmed the resumption of crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline after Ukraine completed repairs on the damaged section. This development facilitated the release of a previously blocked pound 90 billion loan package for Ukraine, which had been stalled by Hungary's veto. Hungary, under outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, demanded the restoration of Russian oil transit as a condition for lifting its veto.

Prime Minister Fico previously cautioned that Slovakia might reconsider its supportive stance on Ukraine's EU membership if Kyiv continued actions that negatively impacted Slovakia's strategic raw material supplies.