#druzhba-pipeline

#druzhba-pipeline

Ukraine's foreign ministry has condemned what it describes as ultimatums and blackmail by Hungary and Slovakia on Saturday, after both governments threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv restarts flows of Russian oil. Hungary has also threatened to block a 90bn Ukrainian war loan. Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off since 27 January, when Kyiv says a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine.

Orban, who has often criticized Europe for taking what he called a "hardline" stance on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said that Russian energy was "vital" for Hungary. He added that Hungary's landlocked geographical position limited the country and forces it to buy Russian oil exports through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs across Ukrainian territory. Cutting access would carry deep consequences for Hungarians, Orban said.