US Edition
Ukraine Delaying Restart of Oil Pipeline: Slovakia
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Ukraine of delaying the pipeline restart to pressure Hungary over EU membership, saying oil might resume if Hungary agreed.
- Fico has maintained relations with Moscow since 2022 and framed the oil stoppage as political, saying Slovakia would accept Kyiv's EU accession only if conditions are met and Serbia, Albania and Montenegro are better prepared.
- Fico told reporters he could not say who damaged the pipeline, citing widespread falsehoods, and added, `We have information that should have been fixed` after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bratislava on Sunday.
- Slovakia and Hungary continue to buy Russian gas and oil despite EU efforts, with Fico linking Hungary's EU stance to oil deliveries and Slovakia's potential agreement.
- Since January 27, Ukraine's foreign ministry said the Druzhba pipeline has been suspended, and Reuters sought comment without immediate reply.
22 Articles
22 Articles
PM Fico Accuses Ukraine of Not Restarting Druzhba Pipeline to Blackmail Hungary
During his trip to Central Europe, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Sunday, 15 February. At the press event, PM Fico levelled heavy accusations against the Zelenskyy administration in Ukraine. He claimed that Kyiv is delaying the restart of the Druzhba pipeline, which transports crude oil from Russia to Europe, to pressure the Hungarian governm…
He claims that Kiev is delaying the resumption of flows to pressure Hungary regarding Ukraine's EU accession.
Hungary's energy security cannot be an ideological issue.
Pipeline Politics: Tensions Over Russian Oil and EU Membership
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Ukraine of delaying Russian oil transport to Eastern Europe via a crucial pipeline. Fico suggested the delay aims at pressuring Hungary to support Ukraine's EU membership bid. Hungary, maintaining ties with Russia, opposes Ukraine's EU entry. Ukraine has not commented.
The oil pipeline Drjugba, which transports Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia, was repaired after recent accidents but Ukraine could both resupply the supply to put pressure on Hungary without...
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