The Slovak government is threatening to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine if it does not restore the pipeline that transports Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary. Prime Minister Robert Fico has also declared an oil emergency. He told a press conference that 250,000 tons of oil from an emergency reserve will be used, Dennikn reports.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
The premise is that, according to Ukrainian authorities, the Druzhba oil pipeline was closed after damage was caused during a Russian attack near the Ukrainian city of Brody in late January. The southern branch of the pipeline usually transports Russian oil through Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary, among other destinations. According to Fico, “our intelligence” reported that the damaged area has already been repaired.
“If President Zelensky finally stops the flow of oil through the territory of Ukraine, we will not pay more for this product, we will not pay more for tariff fees just because President Zelensky is playing some games here,” he said.
The Slovak Prime Minister added that Russian oil is not flowing to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline, allegedly “due to Zelensky's political decision.”
ADVERTISING
Fico, who, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has maintained close ties with Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, accused Kyiv of using oil supply disruptions as a means of “blackmailing” a country that opposes Ukraine's potential EU membership.
We should add that Slovakia, despite Fico's loud statements, is actively selling weapons to Ukraine.
ADVERTISING