Czechia reveals Hungary and Slovakia’s position after restoration of 'Druzhba pipeline
Photo: Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (facebook.com)
Hungary and Slovakia have changed their position regarding providing Ukraine with a €90 billion loan and the next package of sanctions against Russia. Budapest and Bratislava will support both initiatives, according to a statement by Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.
Macinka noted that since the Druzhba oil pipeline has resumed operations, Hungary and Slovakia will support sanctions against Russia and will not block the loan for Ukraine.
"Both Hungary and Slovakia expressed this position today. Therefore, I assume that if even the Ukrainian president has stated today that the pipeline has the right to operate, then I think this situation can be resolved very soon," he said.
Macinka added that with the arrival of a new government in Budapest, there is a chance to unblock negotiation clusters with Ukraine regarding Kyiv’s accession to the European Union. The approach of the new Hungarian government may be "somewhat more conciliatory and open."
"But we will see, because I think Hungary’s position will change somewhat after the elections, but perhaps not as much as some people would like," he noted.
According to the Czech foreign minister, there will also be progress on the issue of a new 20th package of sanctions against Russia. This issue also depends on the restoration of oil supplies via Druzhba.
"The point is that there are two countries that condition their agreement on the restoration of oil supplies. If this is resolved, I assume that the issue of the sanctions package will also move forward," he concluded.
Restoration of Druzhba and the loan for Ukraine
On April 21, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had repaired a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian attack. The pipeline can now resume operations.
Earlier, Hungarian parliamentary election winner Péter Magyar linked the lifting of Hungary’s veto to the restoration of the Druzhba oil pipeline. According to him, as soon as oil starts flowing through the pipeline again, Budapest will stop blocking the loan.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico supported the Hungarian position and also threatened to block future loans to Ukraine — even though responsibility for the damage to Druzhba lies with the Russian side.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that EU ambassadors on Wednesday, April 22, are set to consider the final procedural decision needed to launch €90 billion in funding for Ukraine.
