Fico reveals details of his conversation with Zelenskyy
Photo: Robert Fico (Getty Images)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, after a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that they have "differing views" regarding the state of the Druzhba pipeline, according to Fico’s statement on Twitter (X) and a comment to journalists from Ukrainian presidential communications advisor Dmytro Lytvyn.
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"From the conversation with Ukrainian President V. Zelensky, I gained a clear impression that the Ukrainian side has no interest in resuming the transit of oil through Ukrainian territory," said the Slovak prime minister.
Fico noted that he informed Zelenskyy about the logistical difficulties and financial losses his country faces due to the halt of oil transit.
"The conversation confirmed that we have differing views on the condition of the pipeline," he emphasized.
According to the Slovak prime minister, Slovak intelligence reported that the Druzhba pipeline allegedly has no damage and nothing prevents oil transit. He added that Zelenskyy stated that repairing the pipeline would take a lot of time.
Fico also complained that Ukraine has still not allowed the Slovak ambassador in Kyiv to inspect the pipeline. He noted that the same restriction applied to the EU ambassador in Ukraine.
What Zelenskyy’s team says
Lytvyn told journalists that the Slovak prime minister was invited to Ukraine specifically to discuss all issues regarding the Druzhba pipeline in person, rather than communicating via social media or the press. Zelenskyy’s advisor emphasized that "this is a serious matter, not for hype."
"So, is this pipeline in another country or somewhere here?" Lytvyn commented on Fico’s reluctance to come to Ukraine.
Problems with the Druzhba pipeline
Earlier today, February 27, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke with Robert Fico. According to Orbán, both prime ministers disagree with the claim that restoring the Druzhba pipeline is impossible due to technical problems.
Orbán noted that for this reason, Hungary and Slovakia want to create a so-called "investigative commission" and are requesting Zelenskyy’s permission to access the facility.
Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia struck the Druzhba pipeline, after which oil transit to Slovakia and Hungary was halted.
Subsequently, authorities in Budapest and Bratislava began blaming Ukraine. According to the Hungarian and Slovak governments, Ukraine allegedly does not want to restore transit for political reasons.
