'Ultimatums should be sent to Kremlin': Ukraine responds to Orban and Fico
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine unless oil deliveries are restored. Kyiv has rejected and condemned what it called ultimatums and blackmail, urging that such demands be directed at the Kremlin instead, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The ministry stressed that such threats from the governments of Hungary and Slovakia, amid Russia's massive strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during freezing temperatures, are provocative, irresponsible, and endanger the energy security of the entire region.
According to the ministry, Budapest and Bratislava are not only playing into the hands of the aggressor but are also harming their energy companies that supply electricity on a commercial basis.
The ministry noted that Ukraine remains in constant contact with the European Commission regarding damage to its energy system caused by daily Russian attacks.
"We have also provided information about the consequences of these Russian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure to the governments of Hungary and Slovakia. Security and stabilization repair work continues amid daily threats of new missile attacks. Ukraine has also proposed alternative ways to resolve the issue of supplying non-Russian oil to these countries," the statement on the ministry's website said.
The ministry emphasized that Ukraine has been and will remain a reliable energy partner of the EU and a key transit country for energy resources.
At the same time, in light of "the unfounded and irresponsible threats" emanating from Budapest and Bratislava, Kyiv is considering activating the Early Warning Mechanism under the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
In sum, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged the two governments to engage constructively and act responsibly.
"We call on the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic to engage in constructive cooperation and behave responsibly. Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv," the statement said.
Background
In late January, the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary was halted after Russia struck a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline.
As a result, Ukraine was forced to suspend oil transportation to refineries in those countries.
