BRUSSELS 

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday called on the European Union to reconsider sanctions on Russian oil and gas, citing mounting energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Global energy markets have been severely impacted after Iran halted most commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

The disruption has driven up energy and fuel costs across Europe, increasing pressure on countries such as Slovakia that remain heavily dependent on external energy supplies.

In a statement following a phone call with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico urged the EU to reopen dialogue with Russia, TVP World reported.

"The EU and especially the (European Commission) should immediately resume dialogue with Russia and ensure such a political and legal environment that individual member states and the EU as a whole can replenish missing gas and oil supplies and enable the delivery of these strategic raw materials from all possible sources and directions, including Russia," he said.

Fico also called for efforts to restore flows through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

Both countries are currently exempt from certain EU sanctions on Russian oil due to limited alternative supply options.

Fico and Orban have accused Ukraine of delaying the resumption of deliveries through the pipeline for political reasons. Kyiv has denied the claims, stating that repairs are ongoing following damage caused by a Russian drone strike earlier this year.