This Saturday, February 21, the Ukrainian Government condemned the “blackmail” and “ultimatums” from Slovakia and Hungary, which threatened to suspend emergency electricity supplies if Ukraine keeps the pipeline transporting Russian oil to the two countries closed.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement cited by the EFE agency, argues that the possible suspension of electricity supply, which takes place in the context of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, at a time when the country is facing extreme cold conditions, is “provocative, irresponsible and threatens the energy security of the entire region”.
The Ukrainian ministry claims that, by carrying out the threat, the governments of Hungary and Slovakia would not only be “benefiting the aggressor”, Russia, but also harming their own companies.
“Ukraine is in constant contact with representatives of the European Commission regarding the damage caused by Russia’s daily attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. We also provide information on the consequences of these attacks on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure to the governments of Hungary and Slovakia,” the ministry said in the statement.
The Ukrainian government assures that it is not only working to repair damaged infrastructure, but has also proposed “alternative routes” to supply non-Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
“At the same time, in light of the unfounded and irresponsible threats that have arrived from Budapest and Bratislava in recent days, Ukraine is considering the possibility of activating the Early Warning Mechanism as part of the agreement between Ukraine and the European Union,” the ministry added.
In a statement, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Ukraine today that if it does not resume supplies of Russian oil to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline on Monday, he will ask “responsible Slovak companies to stop supplying emergency electricity to Ukraine on the same day”.
One of the points on the pipeline affected by Russian bombing was the Brody interchange in western Ukraine, from where oil is pumped to Slovakia and Hungary.
Hungary and Slovakia claim that the pipeline is now capable of resuming the supply of Russian oil to the two Central European countries, which have exemptions to import crude from Moscow.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Friday that he will block the European Union’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine until Kiev resumes supplies of Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungary, together with Slovakia, is Moscow’s closest ally in the European Union and buys at least 65% of its oil and 85% of its gas from Russia.
Almost four years after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, direct talks were held on Tuesday and Wednesday between Moscow and Kiev, mediated by Washington, described as difficult by both parties and which ended without tangible progress.
The trilateral talks aim to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began with the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, in what is the most serious conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
Negotiations remain blocked by Russia’s demand that Kiev withdraw from Donbass, an industrial region in eastern Ukraine currently almost entirely under the control of Russian forces.
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